Caption

Crossguard tsuba, Takahashi Ietsugu fl. ca. 1830–1880. Tsuba in the shape of a rectangle with rounded sides with slight indentations in each corner sumi iri mokkô gata, with a slightly raised edge uchi kaeshi. Two-tone shield crossguard — obverse made of shakudo alloy, reverse of shibuichi. Decorated in high relief using inlay and engraving: obverse shows a blossoming cherry tree standing on the seashore with a mountain peak silhouetted among the clouds; reverse depicts two swimming ducks and cherry blossom petals falling onto the water. Signature: Takahashi Ietsugu sei. 1st half of the 19th century Edo period, 1603–1868, Japan. Type: tsuba. Dimensions: height 7 cm, width 6 cm, depth 0.5 cm., A dark, square-edged metal object with rounded corners and a central tapered opening is shown against a gray background; the metal surface is mostly charcoal and black with a slightly textured, worn appearance, and it features a few small gold-colored leaf-like accents scattered across the surface, a gold-colored stylized bird near the lower edge, and a small silver-gray element resembling a seed or pod nearby, with subtle incised lines suggesting a flowing pattern on the lower half.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A20_407

License type

Rights managed

Available size

103.0Mb (3.0Mb) / 20.0in x 20.0in / 6000 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Crossguard tsuba Takahashi Ietsugu fl ca 1830–1880 Tsuba shape rectangle rounded sides slight indentations corner sumi iri mokkô gata slightly raised edge uchi kaeshi Two-tone shield crossguard obverse shakudo alloy reverse shibuichi Decorated high relief using inlay engraving blossoming cherry tree standing seashore mountain peak silhouetted clouds reverse depicts two swimming ducks cherry blossom petals falling water Signature Takahashi Ietsugu sei 1st half 19th century Edo period 1603–1868 Japan Type tsuba Dimensions height 7 cm width 6 cm depth 0.5 cm dark square-edged metal object rounded corners central tapered opening shown gray background metal surface mostly charcoal black slightly textured worn appearance features small gold-colored leaf- accents scattered across surface gold-colored stylized bird near lower edge small silver-gray element resembling seed pod nearby subtle incised lines suggesting flowing pattern lower half.