Hand-guard (tsuba) for a sword, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi) with other metals engraved and in relief depicting Yuten Shonin exorcising the ghost of Kasane, from a design by Hokusai, inscribed painted by Hokusai, signed Hitotsuyanagi Tomonaga and dated autumn of the first year of Genji[=1864]

Place of Origin
Japan (made)

Date
1864 (made)

Artist/maker
Hitotsuyanagi Tomonaga (maker)

Materials and Techniques
Copper-silver alloy (shibuichi) with other metals engraved and in relief

Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed painted by Hokusai, signed Hitotsuyanagi Tomonaga and dated autumn of the first year of Genji

Dimensions
Height: 9.27 cm approx., Width: 8.64 cm approx.

Descriptive line
Hand-guard (tsuba), copper-silver alloy (shibuichi) with other metals, Mito school, from a design by Hokusai, Japan, 1864

Labels and date
The tsuba is a protective guard fitted between the hilt and the blade of a sword. Originally they were simple iron disks, sometimes decorated by piercing or hammering in low relief. Later sword guards were more often made of copper alloys, patinated to a wide range of colours and inlaid with other coloured metals. Sword guards became miniature art forms, and different schools of makers developed their own unique styles. [04/11/2015]

Materials
Copper; Silver

Techniques
Relief; Engraving

Categories
Arms & Armour

Collection
East Asia Collection