Sword Guard
1800-1850 (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 serves to balance the weight of the blade and, to some extent, protect the hand from an opponent's blade. This tsuba is made of brass in the form of a bell and is inlaid with gold, silver and shakudo with raised decoration of a snake with gold and shakudo eyes and a copper tongue.
People
The tsuba is signed 'made by Michitoshi' and is of a type worn on swords carried by rich merchants or by samurai when away from the shogun's court. It formed part of a group of 92 tsuba sold to the V&A in 1888 by H. Virtue Tebbs. This purchase more than doubled the Museum's collection of such objects.
Time
Following the dissolution of the samurai in 1876 and the prohibition of the wearing of swords, many former samurai sold their swords and sword fittings. Many of these objects reached Europe, where they were eagerly collected. In typical Victorian fashion, British collectors became obsessed with collecting and cataloguing this new art form.
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 serves to balance the weight of the blade and, to some extent, protect the hand from an opponent's blade. This tsuba is made of brass in the form of a bell and is inlaid with gold, silver and shakudo with raised decoration of a snake with gold and shakudo eyes and a copper tongue.
People
The tsuba is signed 'made by Michitoshi' and is of a type worn on swords carried by rich merchants or by samurai when away from the shogun's court. It formed part of a group of 92 tsuba sold to the V&A in 1888 by H. Virtue Tebbs. This purchase more than doubled the Museum's collection of such objects.
Time
Following the dissolution of the samurai in 1876 and the prohibition of the wearing of swords, many former samurai sold their swords and sword fittings. Many of these objects reached Europe, where they were eagerly collected. In typical Victorian fashion, British collectors became obsessed with collecting and cataloguing this new art form.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Brass, inlaid with gold and silver, with relief decoration of a snake with gold and shakudo eyes and a copper tongue |
| Brief description | Tsuba- with snake |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed with maker's mark 'Michitoshi-saku' |
| 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 in Japan by Michitoshi |
| 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 serves to balance the weight of the blade and, to some extent, protect the hand from an opponent's blade. This tsuba is made of brass in the form of a bell and is inlaid with gold, silver and shakudo with raised decoration of a snake with gold and shakudo eyes and a copper tongue. People The tsuba is signed 'made by Michitoshi' and is of a type worn on swords carried by rich merchants or by samurai when away from the shogun's court. It formed part of a group of 92 tsuba sold to the V&A in 1888 by H. Virtue Tebbs. This purchase more than doubled the Museum's collection of such objects. Time Following the dissolution of the samurai in 1876 and the prohibition of the wearing of swords, many former samurai sold their swords and sword fittings. Many of these objects reached Europe, where they were eagerly collected. In typical Victorian fashion, British collectors became obsessed with collecting and cataloguing this new art form. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1461-1888 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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