ca. 1615-1868
Japan
Object qualities
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Objectweapon: Sword guard (Tsuba)
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Type of arts & crafts
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MediumIron, gold, silver, copper-gold alloy (shakudЕЌ)
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SizeDiam. 3 5/16 in. (8.4 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 4.6 oz. (130.4 g)
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Geography detailsCountry of Origin
Japan -
Country today
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Dateca. 1615-1868
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CultureJapanese
Source of information
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Type of sourceDatabase “Metropolitan Museum of Art”
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Fund that the source refers toMetropolitan Museum of Art
Description
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This tsuba shows two Chinese windmill palm (Japanese: shuro, 棕櫚) branches in openwork (ji-sukashi). The two openings for scabbard accessories (hitsu-ana) have been plugged with shakudō and the rim is decorated with an alternating Greek key motif of gold and silver (nunome-zōgan), although the silver parts have almost entirely come off.