Tsuba (sword guard) with design of three pawlownia crests and vines / Kinai School

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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
Object Creation Date
circa 1750
Object Creation Place
Asia (continent)
Japan (nation)
Creation Place 1
Asia (continent)
Creation Place 2
Japan (nation)
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.
Rights
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Technical Details

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

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Manifest
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1978-SL-2.4:1978_2.4.JPG

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"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 28, 2024.
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