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Sword Guard (Tsuba) With the Motif of Dragonfly in Grapevine (葡萄に勝虫図鐔)

probably 18th–19th century
Not on view
The obverse of this tsuba shows towards the top a dragonfly (kachimushi) that is enirely highlighted in gold. The surface is finished with hammerblows and shows grapevine, with the veins of one leaf of the obverse being inlaid in gold. At the other leaves, the veins are carved in kebori, but all grapes, on the obverse as on the reverse, are gilded. The outline of the washer seat (seppa-dai) has an uncommon gear wheel shape.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba) With the Motif of Dragonfly in Grapevine (葡萄に勝虫図鐔)
  • Date: probably 18th–19th century
  • Culture: Japanese
  • Medium: Iron, gold, copper-gold alloy (shakudō)
  • Dimensions: H. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm); W. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); thickness 1/8 in. (0.3 cm); Wt. 4.8 oz. (136.1 g)
  • Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
  • Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
  • Object Number: 91.1.830
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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Sword Guard (Tsuba), Iron, copper, Japanese
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late 14th century
Sword Guard (Tsuba), Omori Hidenaga Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, copper, silver, Japanese
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Omori Hidenaga
18th century
Sword Guard (Tsuba), Hirata School Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, enameled cloisonné (shippō), copper, Japanese
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
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ca. 1615–1868
Blade for a Double-Edged Sword (<i>Ken</i>), Steel, Japanese
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Japanese
5th century
唐草図鐔 Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>), 鷲田光中作 Washida Mitsunaka Japanese, Iron, silver, copper, Japanese
唐草図鐔 Sword Guard (Tsuba)
鷲田光中作 Washida Mitsunaka
19th century

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