Tsuba with design of geese in flight

鐔　飛翔する雁
Unno Moritoshi (Japanese, 1834–1896)
School: Mito School (Japanese, 18th–20th centuries)
Japanese
Meiji era
1883
Medium/Technique Main material: shibuichi; other metals: gold and silver
Dimensions Overall: 7.2 x 7.3 x 0.5 cm (2 13/16 x 2 7/8 x 3/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.11954
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsArms and armor
Signed Meiji mizunoto-hitsuji sakurazuki Bigeirô sensei no tame Unno Moritoshi koku su [Carved for Dr. Bigelow by Unno Moritoshi in the third month of the mizunoto-hitsuji year of Meiji (=1883)]
明治癸未櫻月為美藝郎先生海野盛壽刻
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 – d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow’s collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum’s collection at later dates.