Sword Guard (Tsuba)
19th century
Medium
Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, silver, copper
Dimensions
H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); W. 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm); thickness 5/16 in. (0.8 cm); Wt. 4.4 oz. (124.7 g)
Classification
Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of the Baber Family, in loving memory of Charles Chenault Baber, 2012
Accession Number
2012.528.3
Tags
About this artwork
This sword furniture-tsuba titled "Sword Guard (Tsuba)" by Gotō Mitsuakira dates to 19th century. Executed in copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, silver, copper, this work represents Japanese artistic traditions. The piece demonstrates the technical skill and artistic vision characteristic of its period. The work's presence in a major museum collection attests to its significance in the broader narrative of art history. As part of institutional holdings, it serves both scholarly research and publ...
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Sword Guard (Tsuba)* by Gotō Mitsuira, crafted in the 19th, exemplifies the masterful metalworking traditions of Japan's Edo period. As a vital component of the samurai sword mounting, the tsuba served a practical purpose—shielding the hand from the blade—while doubling as a canvas for artistic expression. Gotō Mitsuakira, from the renowned Gotō school of metal artisans, specialized in intricate designs that blended functionality with beauty, often drawing from nature and daily life. Here, motifs of men and deer likely evoke themes of harmony between humans and the wild, common...