Tsuba (sword guard) with inlaid design of samurai on horseback at the shore / Harunori
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1978/2.2
- Title
- Tsuba (sword guard) with inlaid design of samurai on horseback at the shore
- Artist
- Harunori
- Artist Nationality
- Japanese
- Medium and Support
- iron with gold, silver, and copper inlays
- Object Creation Date
- 18th century
- 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
- 7.8 cm x 7.2 cm x 0.4 cm (3 1/16 in. x 2 13/16 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 quartrefoil shape. Three holes in the middle. Some chips can be seen around the center hole, which mended with silver and copper. A samurai on horseback is charging into the sea from steep hill; he is wearing a helmet, armor, and sword, and holding a fan. A pine tree is standing on the samurai’s right side; there are rocks and bamboo grass by the ocean. The motifs of the ocean, pine tree, bamboo grass and rocks also appear on the reverse side. Gold and some silver and copper inlays are applied on pine branches, samurai's helmet, horse's mane and bridle, bamboo grass on the shore, and spray from waves.
- 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. The samurai, charging into the sea, is unidentified. Possibly Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159 - 1189), who was said to have uncompared braveness and mythical power.
- Secondary Keywords
- animals and creatures
- bodies of water
- bodies of water and components of bodies of water
- bodies of water by size
- buildings and the land
- descriptors
- evergreens
- grass (plant material)
- landscapes (environments)
- mammals
- marine bodies
- materials
- materials by origin
- natural landscapes
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people by occupation
- people in military occupations
- plant material
- plants
- settlements and landscapes
- trees
- trees by leaf life
- vegetation and vegetation components
- vegetation 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
- 2188 x 1926
- File Size
- 583 KB
- Record
- 1978/2.2
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1978-sl-2.2/1978_2_2_view1.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
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- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1978-SL-2.2:1978_2_2_VIEW1.JPG
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- Full citation
-
"Tsuba (sword guard) with inlaid design of samurai on horseback at the shore; Harunori." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1978-sl-2.2/1978_2_2_view1.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 08, 2024.