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An unpublished catalogue of the A. H. Church collection of Japanese sword-guards (tsuba) by Albert James Koop.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
Tsuba depicting Raiden, the Thunder God, with bamboo and a rain storm on the reverse
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Literature notes
On the front, in imitation of dark shibuichi with faint modelling, gilding and inlay of shakudō and copper, is the partly visible figure of the Thunder God, Raiden, with his thunder-drums amid swirling clouds. The back has togidashi work (compare [EAX.11041]) representing bamboos (black) blown by a rain-storm (gilding), with, in gold lacquer on the field, the name of the painter originating the design, Yempo [Japanese text], followed by his kakihan [Figure]. Edge and rg.-linings of plain shibuichi. The guard itself signed in gold lacquer: Chōfu no jū ("resident of Tottori", capital of Inaba province) Yoshitsura [Japanese text] saku. (Unrecorded.) -
Details
- Associated place
- Date
- 19th century (1801 - 1900)
- Material and technique
- obverse and reverse: copper; shibuichi edge and ryōhitsu rims obverse: with lacquer decoration reverse: with togidashi maki-e lacquer decoration and gilding
- Dimensions
- 8 x 7.5 cm (height x width)
- Material index
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processed material › metal › alloy › copper alloy › shibuichi,processed material › metal › alloy › silver alloy › shibuichi,
- Technique index
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covered › metallized › gilded
- 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.11197
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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. 1197
Glossary (6)
lacquer, maki-e, shibuichi, togidashi, togidashi maki-e, tsuba
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lacquer
Chinese and Japanese lacquer is made from the sap of the lacquer tree, which is indigenous to Eastern China. It is applied to wood as a varnish or for decorative effect. In India and the Middle East, lacquer is made from the deposit of the lac insect.
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maki-e
(‘sprinkled design’) generic term for lacquer decoration using powdered metals sprinkled onto wet lacquer to create a design
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shibuichi
alloy of copper and silver, patinated to a dull grey-green colour
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togidashi
Technique in which the design in metal powders sprinkled over damp lacquer, is permitted to harden, then entirely covered with lacquer and finally after hardening, polished with abrasives to re-expose the design.
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togidashi maki-e
(‘sprinkled designs revealed by polishing’) a type of makie in which the sprinkled design is covered with lacquer that is then polished away so that the design reappears flush with the surface
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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
-
The A. H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba)
On the front, in imitation of dark shibuichi with faint modelling, gilding and inlay of shakudō and copper, is the partly visible figure of the Thunder God, Raiden, with his thunder-drums amid swirling clouds. The back has togidashi work (compare [EAX.11041]) representing bamboos (black) blown by a rain-storm (gilding), with, in gold lacquer on the field, the name of the painter originating the design, Yempo [Japanese text], followed by his kakihan [Figure]. Edge and rg.-linings of plain shibuichi. The guard itself signed in gold lacquer: Chōfu no jū ("resident of Tottori", capital of Inaba province) Yoshitsura [Japanese text] saku. (Unrecorded.)
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