Caption

Crossguard tsuba, Kaneie, school craftsman author. Japanese iron oval tsuba with an irregular outline slightly merging into a quatrefoil mokkô, slightly marked edge uchi kaeshi, textured surface. Decorated in low relief with details inlaid with gold and cut into negative openwork. Both sides show waterside reeds and a full moon emerging from behind clouds. One hole udenuki ana at the bottom. Signed. 18th century Edo period, 1603–1868. Japan; Fushimi, Yamashiro. Materials/subject: Japanese art; moon iconography; weapons—swords, katana; sword crossguards, tsuba. Dimensions: height 7.7 cm, width 7.6 cm, depth 0.3 cm., A roughly circular metal object with an irregular edge sits against a pale gray background; the metal surface is dark brown with areas of reddish-brown and subtle gray patina, and shows a textured, pitted finish. Near the top is a crescent-shaped cutout with cloudlike incised lines extending from it, and a tall narrow central opening runs vertically toward the middle. A few small round holes are visible near the lower central area and along the central opening. Incised linear designs suggestive of plant stems and leaves appear on the lower right, with traces of bright metallic gold highlighting in a few small spots. The overall appearance is aged and worn, with variations of dark brown, reddish-brown, gray, and touches of gold.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A27_256

License type

Rights managed

Available size

103.0Mb (7.8Mb) / 20.0in x 20.0in / 6000 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Crossguard tsuba Kaneie school craftsman author Japanese iron oval tsuba irregular outline slightly merging quatrefoil mokkô slightly marked edge uchi kaeshi textured surface Decorated low relief details inlaid gold cut negative openwork sides waterside reeds full moon emerging clouds hole udenuki ana bottom Signed 18th century Edo period 1603–1868 Japan Fushimi Yamashiro Materials subject Japanese art moon iconography weapons swords katana sword crossguards tsuba Dimensions height 7.7 cm width 7.6 cm depth 0.3 cm roughly circular metal object irregular edge sits pale gray background metal surface dark brown areas reddish-brown subtle gray patina textured pitted finish Near top crescent-shaped cutout cloudlike incised lines extending tall narrow central opening runs vertically middle small round holes visible near lower central area central opening Incised linear designs suggestive plant stems leaves lower right traces bright metallic gold highlighting small spots appearance aged worn variations gray touches gold.