Tsuba (sword guard) with design of three pawlownia crests and vines / Kinai School
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1978/2.4
- Title
- Tsuba (sword guard) with design of three pawlownia crests and vines
- Artist
- Kinai School
- Artist Nationality
- Japanese
- Artist Life Dates
- 17th century - 19th century
- Medium and Support
- iron, gold and shakudô (copper-gold alloy)
- Object Creation Date
- circa 1750
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- Japan (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Asia (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Japan (nation)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Weston
- Dimensions
- 8 cm x 8 cm x 0.5 cm (3 1/8 in. x 3 1/8 in. x 3/16 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 small, flat metal piece has a circular shape and an openwork design. It has a triangular shaped sword hole in the center, flanked by two other holes, which are filled with shakudô (copper-gold alloy). The sword hole is mended with gold. Three crests, consisting of pawlownia leaves and flowers, are interconnected with vines. There are some abrasions on the center oval shape around the sword hole. The surface is slightly textured by minute stippling. The outer rim is slightly elevated from the inner design. This openwork carving technique is called "marubori" (round carving).
- 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. The smaller holes are to insert kozuka (left), an ornamental stick, and kougai (right), a spatula-like stick which is said to be used for itching hair underneath hats or helmets. This particlar tsuba has three crests of "Gosangiri" (pawlownia with three-five-three flower petals), which perhaps was the family crest of the owner of the original sword.
- Secondary Keywords
- biological components
- buildings and the land
- components
- components and systems
- components by specific context
- descriptors
- design elements
- edged weapon components
- heraldic motifs
- herbaceous plants
- landscapes (environments)
- motifs
- natural landscapes
- plant components
- plants
- settlements and landscapes
- trees (components)
- vegetation and vegetation components
- vegetation components
- weapon components
- woody plants
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 753 x 755
- File Size
- 53 KB
- Record
- 1978/2.4
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1978-sl-2.4/1978_2.4.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1978-SL-2.4:1978_2.4.JPG
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- Full citation
-
"Tsuba (sword guard) with design of three pawlownia crests and vines; Kinai School." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1978-sl-2.4/1978_2.4.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed March 29, 2024.