Tsuba with Marishiten
Iwamoto Konkan (Japanese, 1744-1801) (Artist)
1793 (Edo)
iron, silver, gold, copper, shakudo
(Japanese Military Armor)

Standing on a charging bull at the right side of this tsuba is the Buddhist deity Marishiten. She is known as the Queen of Heaven, despite her masculine appearance. She has three faces. Her six arms (normally eight) carry a sword, a bow and arrow, and a spear. She is believed to reside in the stars of Ursa Major. The inscription on the front says that it was presented by the Suwa clan by orders of the ruler. The Suwa clan controlled the area that is now Nagano prefecture. The reverse has two Suwa oak leaf crests.
Inscription

[Dedication] 諏訪氏奉君命; [Transliteration] Suwa uji tatematsuru kunmei; [Translation] Presented to the Suwa clan, by orders of the ruler; [Date] 寛政五癸丑歳陽復; [Transliteration] Kansei go mizu-no-to ushi toshi yôfuku; [Translation] Fifth year of Kansei (1793), the year of the ox, November; [Signature] 謹而鐫岩本昆寛; [Transliteration] kin ji sen Iwamoto Konkan; [Translation] Respectfully engraved by Iwamoto Konkan (kao)
Provenance

Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.