Tsuba (Sword guard) with inlaid design of egrets and reeds(attached to 1973/2.88) / Artist Unknown, Japan

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Record Details

Accession Number
1978/2.12
Title
Tsuba (Sword guard) with inlaid design of egrets and reeds(attached to 1973/2.88)
Artist Nationality
Japanese
Object Creation Date
1615-1868
Object Creation Place
Asia (continent)
Japan (nation)
Creation Place 1
Asia (continent)
Creation Place 2
Japan (nation)
Dimensions
0.4 cm x 6.8 cm x 7.4 cm (3/16 in. x 2 11/16 in. x 2 15/16 in.)
Century
18th century
Primary Object Classification
Arms and Armor
Primary Object Type
sword guard
Secondary Object Classification
Metalwork
Secondary Object Type
sword guard
Physical Description
This tsuba is a flat iron plate with quatrefoil design. It has three holes: one for blade (middle) flanked by oval-shape hole (for kougai) and oval with bump shape (for kozuka). Egrets and reeds decorate the surface, distributed in a curve that climbs counter-clockwise from the bottom left register, culmiating in the top left with a lone egret in flight. Egrets on the bottom of the piece perch on the ground or nest in the golden reeds.
Subject Matter
Tsuba (sword guard) is inserted between a sword handle and blade to protect hands from sharp blades. The center hole is where the sword is placed. A smaller hole on the left is to place an ornamental stick, kozuka. Another hole on the right is to insert kougai, spatula-like sticks which are said to be used for itching hair underneath hats or helmets.
Primary Keywords
birds
samurai
sword
Rights
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Technical Details

Image Size
769 x 679
File Size
57 KB
Record
1978/2.12
Link to this Item
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1978-sl-2.12/1978_2.12.jpg

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https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1978-SL-2.12:1978_2.12.JPG

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"Tsuba (Sword guard) with inlaid design of egrets and reeds(attached to 1973/2.88); Artist Unknown, Japan." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1978-sl-2.12/1978_2.12.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed March 19, 2024.
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