Iron with gold and silver inlays | 1-6 | Search Results | University of Michigan Museum of Art | University of Michigan Library Digital Collections

Title: Tsuba (sword guard) with design of Kanzan (Chinese, Han Shan) and Jittoku (Chinese, Shihde), two Zen eccentrics
Artist: Artist Unknown, Japan
Physical Description: Circular tsuba, made of iron. It has two holes in the middle. Two figures, Kanzan and Jittoku, are carved on the lower right corner. Kanzan, who holds a scroll on his hand, and Jittoku, who holds a bloom stick and pointing to the sky, are looking upward. The two figures are carved slightly higher than the surface. On the back, there is the moon partially obscured by clouds. Gold and silver alloy inlays are applied to the moon and the clouds. Gold is also inlayed in their eyes, parts of the garments, and Kanzan's scroll. Shakudô (copper-gold alloy) is inlayed in Jittoku's bloom and his jacket collars.
Century: 18th century
Object Creation Date: early 18th century
Accession Number: 1978/2.5
Medium and Support: iron with gold, silver, and shakudô (copper-gold alloy) inlays
relevance: rank 21.04500

Title: Tsuba (Sword guard) with design of dragon among clouds
Artist: Okada Masatoyo
Physical Description: The flat iron plate with quatrefoil shape and the design of a dragon in midst of clouds. It has three holes: one for blade (middle) flanked by two deformed oval-shape holes (for kougai and kozuka). Around the blade hole, there is the carver’s signature. The design of a dragon, among stylized clouds, is intricately carved in high relief; the dragon has almost three-dimensional quality. On the back, the dragon tail, some parts of the body, one claw are peeking from clouds. The dragon coils around the center holes. The rims of the three circles are wavy, as if they are the part of the cloud design. The stoppers on the blade hole edges are made of gold. Some silver inlays are applied on the dragon’s eye blow and some nails.
Artist Life Dates: act. 1789
Century: 19th century
Object Creation Date: 19th century
Accession Number: 1978/2.6
Medium and Support: iron with gold and silver inlays
relevance: rank 20.99878

Title: Tsuba (sword guard) with design of Kanzan (Chinese, Han Shan) and Jittoku (Chinese, Shihde), two Zen eccentrics
Artist: Artist Unknown, Japan
Century: 19th century
Object Creation Date: 1615-1868
Accession Number: 1978/2.9
Medium and Support: iron with gold and silver inlays
relevance: rank 20.99878

Title: Tsuba (Sword guard) with inlaid design of egrets and reeds(attached to 1973/2.88)
Artist: Artist Unknown, Japan
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.
Century: 18th century
Object Creation Date: 1615-1868
Accession Number: 1978/2.12
Medium and Support: iron with gold and silver inlays
relevance: rank 20.99878

Title: Tsuba (sword guard) with inlaid design of samurai on horseback at the shore
Artist: Harunori
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.
Century: 18th century
Object Creation Date: 18th century
Accession Number: 1978/2.2
Medium and Support: iron with gold, silver, and copper inlays
relevance: rank 20.77042

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