The A. H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba)
An unpublished catalogue of the A. H. Church collection of Japanese sword-guards (tsuba) by Albert James Koop.
Publications online: 1264 objects
Aori-shaped tsuba depicting a man preparing to write a poem
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Literature notes
Aori; "wire" edge; bold katakiri engraving of a man seated by a stream preparing to write a poem as the wine-cups float by (the pastime Kiokusui no yen); one such cup (gold inlay) appears in the continuation of the stream at the back, floating past a leafless tree, but actually the man is looking at the reflection of the moon (silver inlay) in the water before him; various details (brush, roll of paper, shirt collar) in gold or silver inlay. On the front, at the top, is engraved a poem on the subject with gold-inlaid signature and seal of the writer, Shumpo [Japanese text] [compare EAX.11077].
Signed in cursive: Dairiūsai [Japanese text] Mitsuoki (as the last). -
Details
- Associated place
- Date
- 1766 - 1834
- Material and technique
- sentoku, with katakiri engraving (oblique chisel-cuts), and inlaid with gold and silver; tang-hole plugged with soft metal, probably copper
- Dimensions
- 6.7 x 7 cm (height x width)
- Material index
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processed material › metal › alloy › sentoku,processed material › metal › gold,
- Technique index
- Object type index
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arms/armour › koshirae › kodogu › tsuba
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Bequeathed by Sir Arthur H. Church, 1915.
- Accession no.
- EAX.11052
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Further reading
Koop, Albert James, The A. H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba), 3 vols (Oxford, Ashmolean Museum, 1929), no. 1052
Glossary (2)
sentoku, tsuba
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sentoku
A kind of brass made from an alloy of copper, zinc, and tin.
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tsuba
Japanese sword guard.
Location
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- currently in research collection
Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.
Publications online
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The A. H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba)
Aori; "wire" edge; bold katakiri engraving of a man seated by a stream preparing to write a poem as the wine-cups float by (the pastime Kiokusui no yen); one such cup (gold inlay) appears in the continuation of the stream at the back, floating past a leafless tree, but actually the man is looking at the reflection of the moon (silver inlay) in the water before him; various details (brush, roll of paper, shirt collar) in gold or silver inlay. On the front, at the top, is engraved a poem on the subject with gold-inlaid signature and seal of the writer, Shumpo [Japanese text] [compare EAX.11077].
Signed in cursive: Dairiūsai [Japanese text] Mitsuoki (as the last).
Notice
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