Tsuba (Sword guard) with inlaid design of egrets and reeds(attached to 1973/2.88) / Artist Unknown, Japan
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1978/2.12
- Title
- Tsuba (Sword guard) with inlaid design of egrets and reeds(attached to 1973/2.88)
- Artist
- Artist Unknown, Japan
- Artist Nationality
- Japanese
- Medium and Support
- iron with gold and silver inlays
- Object Creation Date
- 1615-1868
- 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
- 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.
- Secondary Keywords
- animals and creatures
- edged weapons
- objects we use
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people by occupation
- people in military occupations
- weapons
- weapons and ammunition
- 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
- 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
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
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IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1978-SL-2.12:1978_2.12.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"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 May 13, 2024.