Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With Flower Basket Motif (花籠透鐔)
first half 19th century
Medium
Iron, copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, silver, copper
Dimensions
H. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); W. 3 in. (7.6 cm); thickness 1/4 in. (0.6 cm); Wt. 4.1 oz. (116.2 g)
Classification
Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Charles Stewart Smith Memorial Fund, 1919
Accession Number
19.71.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *tsuba* (sword guard), crafted by Ishuro Masaaki in the first half of the 19 century, exemplifies the refined metalwork of Japan's Edo period. As a protective hand guard for samurai swords, *tsuba* were not merely functional but elevated to high art, blending utility with aesthetic splendor. Masaaki, from the renowned Ishiguro school of the Nagoya region, specialized in intricate iron guards adorned with mixed-metal inlays, showcasing the era's mastery of *takabori* (high-relief carving) and *zogan* (inlay) techniques. The openwork design (*sukashi-tsuba*) features a delicate f...