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, copper-gold alloy (shakudЕЌ)
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SizeH. 3 1/16 in. (7.8 cm); W. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 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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The rim area of this Nanban-style tsuba is decorated with arabesques and forms a cartouche which shows the symmetrical gold and shakudō design of demon heads and fern-like flowers on the obverse and an asymmetrical gold and shakudō design of flowers on the reverse. The edges of the hitsu-ana (openings for scabbard accessories) are highlighted in gold and the rim shows traces of a gold nunome-zōgan décor.
