Sword Guard (Tsuba)

Decorator Inscribed by Honjō Yoshitane Japanese

19th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 378

Honjō Yoshitane is chiefly known as a masterful engraver of sword blades, but he also decorated some sword fittings, such as this tsuba. It features a design of a fisherman caught in a squall.

Artwork Details

Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Decorator: Inscribed by Honjō Yoshitane (Japanese, Edo period, 19th century)
Date: 19th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Iron, gold, copper
Dimensions: H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); W. 2 11/16 in. (6.8 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 3.7 oz. (104.9 g)
Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Credit Line: Gift of the Baber Family, in loving memory of Charles Chenault Baber, 2012
Object Number: 2012.528.2
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

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Sword Guard (Tsuba), Iron, copper, Japanese — Sword Guard (Tsuba)
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late 14th century

Sword Guard (Tsuba), Omori Hidenaga Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, copper, silver, Japanese — Sword Guard (Tsuba)
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Sword Guard (Tsuba), Hirata School Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, enameled cloisonné (shippō), copper, Japanese — Sword Guard (Tsuba)
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Blade for a Double-Edged Sword (<i>Ken</i>), Steel, Japanese — Blade for a Double-Edged Sword (*Ken*)
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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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