Caption

Crossguard tsuba, Takehara Tomomasa; oval tsuba tatemaru gata 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 of two elderly people standing by the seashore beneath a spreading pine tree, gazing at the moon emerging from the fog and folding their hands in prayer; two brooms and several shells lie on the shoreline sand. The man is Jô, son of Izanagi, who met Uba in Takasago; after death their spirits reside in pine trees and on moonlit nights their souls meet and sweep pine needles onto the beach, symbolizing long life and a happy marriage. Materials/subject: Japanese, Edo period 1603–1868; weapons — bladed weapons, swords, katana, sword crossguards, tsuba; iconography includes pine trees, water, moon, shells, men, woman's head, sea waves. Date: 18th century Edo period. Place of origin: Japan. Dimensions: height 7.0 cm; width 6.7 cm; depth 0.45 cm., A round metal object with a central hollow shape sits against a light gray background; the metal surface is predominantly dark gray with areas of lighter gray and small spots of brownish rust. The object has carved openwork showing a landscape scene with cloud-like shapes, a tree with textured bark, a group of rounded forms suggesting foliage, and a patterned water area with horizontal wave-like lines; carved figures appear near the tree with rounded forms and textured details. The metal shows a slightly uneven patina with darker recessed areas and hints of metallic sheen along raised edges.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A21_043

License type

Rights managed

Available size

103.0Mb (6.0Mb) / 20.0in x 20.0in / 6000 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Crossguard tsuba Takehara Tomomasa oval tsuba tatemaru gata 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 man Jô son Izanagi met Uba Takasago death spirits reside pine trees moonlit nights souls meet sweep pine needles beach symbolizing long life happy marriage Materials subject Japanese Edo period 1603–1868 weapons bladed weapons swords katana sword crossguards iconography includes water moon shells men woman's head sea waves Date 18th century Edo period Place origin Japan Dimensions height 7.0 cm width 6.7 cm depth 0.45 cm round metal object central hollow shape sits light gray background metal surface predominantly dark gray areas lighter gray small spots brownish rust object carved openwork showing landscape scene cloud- shapes tree textured bark group rounded forms suggesting foliage patterned water area horizontal wave- lines carved figures near textured details metal slightly uneven patina darker recessed hints metallic sheen raised edges.