Caption

Crossguard tsuba, Takehara Tomomasa; oval tatemaru gata tsuba with rectangular edge, inlaid with gold using the nunome technique in a rinzu ornament. Side holes ryôhitsu ana are part of the openwork background. Decorated in relief carving and engraving with a mythological scene: two elderly people standing by the seashore beneath a spreading pine tree, gazing at the moon emerging from fog and folding their hands in prayer; two brooms and several shells lie on the shoreline sand. The male figure is Jô, son of Izanagi, who met and married Uba in Takasago; after death their spirits inhabited pine trees and meet on moonlit nights, sweeping pine needles onto the beach—symbolizing long life and a happy marriage. Japanese, 18th century Edo period, 1603–1868. Medium: metal tsuba; height 7.0 cm, width 6.7 cm, depth 0.45 cm., A round metallic object with a central oval opening and a vertical slit, rendered in shades of silver and gray with areas of darker patina, showing a carved scene with stylized clouds, waves, and a group of figures near a tree. The left side features layered cloud-like shapes above wavy water patterns, the right side depicts a textured tree and a group of robed figures with detailed folds, and the lower edge shows small natural motifs and carved items. The overall colors visible are silver, gray, and darker gray-brown patina.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A21_042

License type

Rights managed

Available size

103.0Mb (5.9Mb) / 20.0in x 20.0in / 6000 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Crossguard tsuba Takehara Tomomasa oval tatemaru gata tsuba rectangular edge inlaid gold using nunome technique rinzu ornament Side holes ryôhitsu ana part openwork background Decorated relief carving engraving mythological scene two elderly people standing seashore beneath spreading pine tree gazing moon emerging fog folding hands prayer two brooms several shells lie shoreline sand male figure Jô son Izanagi met married Uba Takasago death spirits inhabited pine trees meet moonlit nights sweeping pine needles beach symbolizing long life happy marriage Japanese 18th century Edo period 1603–1868 Medium metal tsuba height 7.0 cm width 6.7 cm depth 0.45 cm round metallic object central oval opening vertical slit rendered shades silver gray areas darker patina showing carved scene stylized clouds waves group figures near tree left side features layered cloud- shapes wavy water patterns right side depicts textured tree robed figures detailed folds lower edge small natural motifs carved items colors visible darker gray-brown patina.