Sword Guard

21669

From: Japan

Curatorial Section: Asian

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Native Name Tsuba
Object Number 21669
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Japanese
Provenience Japan
Period Edo Period
Date Made Late 19th Century
Section Asian
Materials Sentoku | Copper
Description

Tsuba in sentoku (a brass alloy). An ape is shown reaching for a persimmon, from the Japanese fable Saru kani kassen, about a feud between a greedy ape and a crab. The difference in color on the part formerly covered by the base of the hilt indicates that this tsuba was used for a long time. It is in the style of the Nara school, late nineteenth century.

Height 6.8 cm
Length 6.5 cm
Credit Line Gift of Mrs. Sarah (William D.) Frishmuth, 1899

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