first half 19th century
Japan
Object qualities
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Objectweapon: Sword guard (Tsuba)
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Author of the objectIshiguro Masaaki
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Type of arts & crafts
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MediumIron, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold, silver, copper
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SizeH. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); W. 3 in. (7.6 cm); thickness 1/4 in. (0.6 cm); Wt. 4.1 oz. (116.2 g)
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Geography detailsCountry of Origin
Japan -
Country today
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Datefirst half 19th century
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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 a gorgeous flower basket in openwork and relief and is a work of Ishiguro Masaaki (石黒政明). Masaaki – first name Sadakichi (定吉), art name Moku’ensai (木鳶斎) – was born in the tenth year of Bunka (文化, 1813). He studied with the first Ishiguro master Masatsune (政常, 1760-1828). His year of death is unknown. The latest known dated work is from the fourth year of Kaei (嘉永, 1851).
This katana-tsuba forms a pair with tsuba 91.71.6. That is, Ishiguro Masaaki complemented a wakizashi-tsuba by Hagiya Katsuhira (萩谷勝平) and Suzuki Katsuhiro (鈴木勝容) to create a daishō pair of sword guards.
