Caption

Crossguard tsuba. Maker: Jakushi; Kizaemon. Tsuba in the shape of a mokkô quatrefoil, with a kôgai hitsu hole plugged with shakudô, copper sekigane, textured surface ishime ji. Decoration in low relief hirabori with fine details inlaid with gold, using nunome technique in places, and copper. Both sides show a Chinese-style mountainous landscape with human and architectural staffage, including mountains, bamboos, pine trees, and bridges. Signed. 18th century Edo period, 1603–1868. Japan, Nagasaki, Hizen. Function: katana sword crossguard. Dimensions: height 7.6 cm; width 6.0 cm; depth 0.4 cm., A roughly oval, dark brown metal object with a textured, pitted surface and a few irregular cutouts in the center, showing a matte gray background through them; the piece has scattered areas of gold-colored inlay forming linear and patchy highlights along the top edge and parts of the lower half, and there are small raised and engraved motifs suggesting natural shapes across the surface rendered in tones of gold, brown, and muted silver; the overall palette includes dark brown, gold, gray, and subtle hints of bronze.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A21_469

License type

Rights managed

Available size

103.0Mb (6.4Mb) / 20.0in x 20.0in / 6000 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Crossguard tsuba Maker Jakushi Kizaemon Tsuba shape mokkô quatrefoil kôgai hitsu hole plugged shakudô copper sekigane textured surface ishime ji Decoration low relief hirabori fine details inlaid gold using nunome technique places copper sides Chinese-style mountainous landscape human architectural staffage mountains bamboos pine trees bridges Signed 18th century Edo period 1603–1868 Japan Nagasaki Hizen Function katana sword crossguard Dimensions height 7.6 cm width 6.0 cm depth 0.4 cm roughly oval dark brown metal object textured pitted surface irregular cutouts center showing matte gray background them piece scattered areas gold-colored inlay forming linear patchy highlights top edge parts lower half small raised engraved motifs suggesting natural shapes across surface rendered tones brown muted silver palette includes dark brown gray subtle hints bronze.