Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

This group includes miscellaneous types of guards decorated with nunome designs in gold, silver, and (rarely) shakudō or copper.

Awa (Ashū), one of the provinces of the island of Shikoku, was the home of a number of artists who produced soft metal guards enriched with gold nunome, with the details lightly engraved. There is practically no relief-modelling, but there may be piercing in either positive or negative silhouette. A certain amount of Shōami influence is probable, and some of the work is difficult to distinguish from the products of Higo province. Signatures are rare.

The work known as Kenjō (“presentation”) in which the iron ground is almost covered with a brilliant overlay of gold-leaf nunome with engraved details, was produced not only in Awa, but also at Kiōto and other places in Yamashiro. It derives its name from being regularly used by the daimios on their visits to Yedo for presents to the Shōgunal officals. This custome extended further to the use of kenjō work as gifts between friends generally.

Nagasaki nunome work consists mostly of designs of a simple nature, geometrical and conventional, in silver wire.

Hizen (Nagasaki) nunome

Hexagonal tsuba with dragon and peonies (EAX.10842)    Octagonal tsuba with dragons and clouds (EAX.10843)    Round tsuba in the form of a wheel (EAX.10844)

Tsuba with Indian lotuses and four of the Precious Objects (EAX.10845)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with heart-shapes and karakusa, or scrolling plant pattern (EAX.10846)    Tsuba with shippō diaper of interlaced circles and karakusa, or scrolling plant pattern (EAX.10847)

Mokkō-shaped tsuba with chequerboard (EAX.10847.a)    Tsuba with fundō weights and dragon medallions (EAX.10848)     Tsuba with chrysanthemum and scrolls (EAX.10849)

Tsuba with dragons and sacred pearl (EAX.10849.a)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with dragons and two Precious Objects (EAX.10850)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with heraldic flower and crescent moon (EAX.10851)

True Awa nunome

Tsuba with aoi, or hollyhock leaves, and foliage (EAX.10852)

Kenjō work

Round tsuba with asters, lespedeza, and gentian (EAX.10853)    Tsuba with asters, lespedeza, and gentian (EAX.10854)    Aori-shaped tsuba with maple leaves on water (EAX.10855)

Aori-shaped tsuba with dragon, phoenix, and shishi, or lion dog (EAX.10856)    Aori-shaped tsuba with leaves and flowers (EAX.10857)

Miscellaneous iron guards decorated with gold wire nunome

Tsuba depicting the battle of Uji river (EAX.10858)    Tsuba with autumn plants and crickets (EAX.10859)    Tsuba with three dragons (EAX.10860)

Tsuba depicting Mount Fuji and six flying geese (EAX.10861)    Tsuba with hexagonal chequer pattern (EAX.10862)    Tsuba with autumn plants and butterflies by a stream (EAX.10863)

Mokkō-shaped tsuba depicting four of the Eight Views of Lake Ōmi (EAX.10864)    Aori-shaped tsuba with dragon (EAX.10865)    Tsuba with peony flower and leaves (EAX.10865.a)

Tsuba with animals and flowers (EAX.10866)    Lenticular tsuba with plants and animals (EAX.10867)    Lenticular tsuba with chrysanthemum flowers (EAX.10868)

Lenticular tsuba with figures and animals amid flowers (EAX.10869)    Tsuba in the form of a tripod stand (EAX.10870)    Tsuba with clematis flowers (EAX.10871)

Mokkō-shaped tsuba with karakusa, or scrolling plant pattern, and mon made from kiri, or paulownia leaves (EAX.10872)    Tsuba in the form of overlapping clam shells, each depicting a bird or animal (EAX.10873)    Tsuba with plants and flowers (EAX.10874)

Tsuba with chrysanthemums (EAX.10875)    Round tsuba with heraldic leaves (EAX.10876)