Tsuba
1894 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This hand guard for a sword, tsuba, is made of russet iron with a matt surface. It is rounded oblong in shape and modelled in low relief with two wild geese, their markings in silver, and beaks and legs in gold. One of the geese is flying under the moon which is inlaid in silver. Below, there is Suzuki grass which is continued on the reverse, which is encrusted in copper-silver alloy shibuichi and gold.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Iron with gold and silver inlay and relief |
| Brief description | Hand guard (tsuba) for a sword, iron with gold and silver relief depicting two geese, the moon and grasses, signed carved by Natsuo on a winter's day in 1894, Japan. |
| Physical description | Hand guard (tsuba) for a sword, iron with gold and silver relief depicting two geese, the moon and grasses. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | Purchased from Yamanaka & Co. (127 New Bond Street, W.), accessioned in 1911. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This hand guard for a sword, tsuba, is made of russet iron with a matt surface. It is rounded oblong in shape and modelled in low relief with two wild geese, their markings in silver, and beaks and legs in gold. One of the geese is flying under the moon which is inlaid in silver. Below, there is Suzuki grass which is continued on the reverse, which is encrusted in copper-silver alloy shibuichi and gold. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.311-1911 |
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| Record created | February 16, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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