Caption

Crossguard tsuba, sword crossguard in namban style, openwork egg-shaped tsuba with a separated edge and pearling; rectangular seppa-dai decorated in low relief with a stylised volute ornament. Surface decorated with an openwork plant tendril karakusa with two sacred jewels tama woven into it and four mantis heads seen from the front. Not signed. 18th century Edo period, 1603–1868, Japan. Tsuba; height 6.5 cm, width 5.8 cm, depth 0.35 cm., A round, ornately pierced metal object with a raised beaded rim and an openwork lattice of interlocking curved shapes filling the interior; the central area features a vertically oriented rectangular opening framed by a carved border with symmetrical curved motifs and a small raised notch at its lower edge, and there are a few stylized animal-like figures integrated into the lattice around the central opening; the surface shows a metallic dark gray color with areas of slightly lighter gray highlights and a small patch of brownish-gold near the lower edge of the central opening, all set against a plain gray background.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A21_057

License type

Rights managed

Available size

103.0Mb (4.9Mb) / 20.0in x 20.0in / 6000 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Crossguard tsuba sword crossguard namban style openwork egg-shaped tsuba separated edge pearling rectangular seppa-dai decorated low relief stylised volute ornament Surface decorated openwork plant tendril karakusa two sacred jewels tama woven four mantis heads front signed 18th century Edo period 1603–1868 Japan Tsuba height 6.5 cm width 5.8 cm depth 0.35 cm round ornately pierced metal object raised beaded rim openwork lattice interlocking curved shapes filling interior central area features vertically oriented rectangular opening framed carved border symmetrical motifs small notch lower edge stylized animal- figures integrated lattice central opening surface metallic dark gray color areas slightly lighter gray highlights small patch brownish-gold near set plain gray background.