Sword Guard
1700-1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
The main function of the tsuba is to prevent the warrior's hand from sliding up on to the blade of the sword during combat. It also balances the weight of the blade and protects the hand from an opponent's blade. The pierced style of iron tsuba like this dates back to the late 15th century and has its origins in the schools of Kyoto metalworkers. The decoration of gourds and leaves entwined around bamboo has been carefully executed to include the leaves of the pauwlonia tree.
People
The tsuba was made by Kaneko Jurobei of Hagi in Choshu Province using the art name 'Yukinaka'. In 1888, when the V&A bought the collection of 92 tsuba of H. Virtue Tebbs, it more than doubled the Museum's holdings of these items.
Time
This tsuba was made around the middle of the 17th century at a time when the tsuba had become an expressive medium for metalworkers. Tsuba also reflected their owners' social standing and personal taste. By the late 19th century tsuba had become redundant in Japan, but were avidly collected by westerners fascinated by a new art form and which lent itself to the Victorian passion for collecting and cataloguing objects of interest.
The main function of the tsuba is to prevent the warrior's hand from sliding up on to the blade of the sword during combat. It also balances the weight of the blade and protects the hand from an opponent's blade. The pierced style of iron tsuba like this dates back to the late 15th century and has its origins in the schools of Kyoto metalworkers. The decoration of gourds and leaves entwined around bamboo has been carefully executed to include the leaves of the pauwlonia tree.
People
The tsuba was made by Kaneko Jurobei of Hagi in Choshu Province using the art name 'Yukinaka'. In 1888, when the V&A bought the collection of 92 tsuba of H. Virtue Tebbs, it more than doubled the Museum's holdings of these items.
Time
This tsuba was made around the middle of the 17th century at a time when the tsuba had become an expressive medium for metalworkers. Tsuba also reflected their owners' social standing and personal taste. By the late 19th century tsuba had become redundant in Japan, but were avidly collected by westerners fascinated by a new art form and which lent itself to the Victorian passion for collecting and cataloguing objects of interest.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Iron, with shakudo (patinated alloy of copper and gold) and copper |
| Brief description | Round pierced tsuba |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed 'Yukinaka-saku' ('Made by Yukinaka') and on the reverse 'Chosh– Hagi ju, Kaneko Jurobei' (living in Hagi in Chosh–, the latter is the artist's given name) |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
SWORD GUARDS (tsuba) The Japanese samurai (warrior) was a figure of great interest in Victorian Britain. When the military class was abolished in Japan in 1876, many former samurai were forced to sell their swords and sword fittings. Large numbers of these objects reached Britain where they were enthusiastically collected.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Purchased from Mr. H. Virtue Tebbs (St. John's Gardens, Notting Hill), accessioned in 1888. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. Made by Yukinaka (active 169-173) in Hagi, Chosh– Province (modern-day Yamaguchi Prefecture), Japan |
| Summary | Object Type The main function of the tsuba is to prevent the warrior's hand from sliding up on to the blade of the sword during combat. It also balances the weight of the blade and protects the hand from an opponent's blade. The pierced style of iron tsuba like this dates back to the late 15th century and has its origins in the schools of Kyoto metalworkers. The decoration of gourds and leaves entwined around bamboo has been carefully executed to include the leaves of the pauwlonia tree. People The tsuba was made by Kaneko Jurobei of Hagi in Choshu Province using the art name 'Yukinaka'. In 1888, when the V&A bought the collection of 92 tsuba of H. Virtue Tebbs, it more than doubled the Museum's holdings of these items. Time This tsuba was made around the middle of the 17th century at a time when the tsuba had become an expressive medium for metalworkers. Tsuba also reflected their owners' social standing and personal taste. By the late 19th century tsuba had become redundant in Japan, but were avidly collected by westerners fascinated by a new art form and which lent itself to the Victorian passion for collecting and cataloguing objects of interest. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1410-1888 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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