Object Details
- School of
- Heianjo-Zogan School, Japan
- Catalogue Status
- Research in Progress
- Description
- Tsuba are disk-shaped metal sword guards that prevent the palm of the hand from slipping past the hilt and onto the blade. This tsuba was made during the Keicho period (1596–1615), a time when metalsmiths were beginning to transition from the production of Kyoto swords (old swords in traditional vernacular styles), and began to produce Shinto swords (new swords).
- This iron tsuba is shinmaru gata (a true circle) in shape, has a migaki (smooth) surface, and is decorated with an inlaid brass design of a kakiwaki kiri (branch of the paulownia tree) with parted foliage.
- The inlay technique known as tetsu was a specialty of the Heianjo school of brass inlay in a region of which Kyoto is the center. The suemon taka zogon inlay is high relief with thin, linear carving lines resembling hair.
- At the center is the nakago-ana, an opening through which the sword passes. On either side are ryo-hitsu, openings for the kozuka (utility knife) and the kogai (skewer tool). At left is sashi ura, the side which faces the blade, whose opening takes the hangetsu-kei (half moon) shape. Opposite is the more elaborately decorated sashi omote side, which faces the sword hilt. Its tri-lobed opening is of the suhama type, and symbolically represents the coastline of Horai, the holy island of the Immortals. Surrounding these openings, is the seppadai, a flat oval area that is migaki (burnished). The rim of the tsuba is angular, or kaku-mimi.
- Credit Line
- Bequest of George Cameron Stone
- 1595–1615
- Accession Number
- 1936-4-30
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Type
- metalwork
- Decorative Arts
- Tsuba
- Medium
- Iron, engraved brass inlay
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 8.7 × 8.7 × 4.2 cm (3 7/16 × 3 7/16 × 1 5/8 in.)
- made in
- Japan
- See more items in
- Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection
- Product Design and Decorative Arts Department
- Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
- Record ID
- chndm_1936-4-30
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kq428b8d21e-1314-439b-8e8e-1efcad713328
