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

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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An unpublished catalogue of the A. H. Church collection of Japanese sword-guards (tsuba) by Albert James Koop.

The A.H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba) by Albert James Koop

Tanaka (Tōriūsai) school

The founder, Tanaka Tōriūsai Kiyotoshi (living in 1867), although in the main self-taught, was influenced by the Ishiguro. He is credited with introducing the Y-shaped punch to roughen the ground for gold nunome overlay. He was followed by his son Kiyoshige and a score of pupils, of whom the best was Morikawa Toshikage.

The work of the school, in some of its aspects, has affinities with that of the Jakushi group. Characteristic features of the guards are raised border with irregular internal profile, the soft modelling of the iron grounds, and the provision, from the start, of specially made and decorated tang-hole plugs.

Tsuba with tiger in a landscape (EAX.11068) Tsuba with tiger in a landscape (EAX.11068)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba depicting a tiger running by a stream (EAX.11069) Mokkō-shaped tsuba depicting a tiger running by a stream (EAX.11069)    Tsuba with blossoming plum tree, narcissus, and clouds (EAX.11070) Tsuba with blossoming plum tree, narcissus, and clouds (EAX.11070)
Tsuba depicting Handaka Sonja, a disciple of Buddha, holding a begging bowl (EAX.11071) Tsuba depicting Handaka Sonja, a disciple of Buddha, holding a begging bowl (EAX.11071)    Tsuba with tigers in  storm (EAX.11072) Tsuba with tigers in storm (EAX.11072)    Tsuba with blossoming plum tree and chrysanthemum plant (EAX.11073) Tsuba with blossoming plum tree and chrysanthemum plant (EAX.11073)
Tsuba with blossoming plum tree (EAX.11074) Tsuba with blossoming plum tree (EAX.11074)    Tsuba with Saxifraga japonica plant (EAX.11075) Tsuba with Saxifraga japonica plant (EAX.11075)    Tsuba depicting a vixen being impregnated by the moon (EAX.11076) Tsuba depicting a vixen being impregnated by the moon (EAX.11076)
Aori-shaped tsuba with tea ceremony cauldron and poem (EAX.11077) Aori-shaped tsuba with tea ceremony cauldron and poem (EAX.11077)    Aoi-shaped tsuba with peonies and butterflies (EAX.11078) Aoi-shaped tsuba with peonies and butterflies (EAX.11078)    Tsuba with soy bean and leaves (EAX.11079) Tsuba with soy bean and leaves (EAX.11079)
Tsuba with chidori, or flying birds, and waves (EAX.11080) Tsuba with chidori, or flying birds, and waves (EAX.11080)   Tsuba with susuki grass, grasshopper, and locust (EAX.11081) Tsuba with susuki grass, grasshopper, and locust (EAX.11081)   Aori-shaped tsuba with butterflies and susuki grass (EAX.11084) Aori-shaped tsuba with butterflies and susuki grass (EAX.11084)  

Tsuba with soy bean (EAX.11085) Tsuba with soy bean (EAX.11085)    Octagonal tsuba with tiger in a stormy landscape (EAX.11086) Octagonal tsuba with tiger in a stormy landscape (EAX.11086)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with swimming duck (EAX.11087) Mokkō-shaped tsuba with swimming duck (EAX.11087)   

Tsuba with ants, paulownia, and chrysanthemum (EAX.11088) Tsuba with ants, paulownia, and chrysanthemum (EAX.11088)    Tsuba with cranes, landscape, and temple buildings (EAX.11089) Tsuba with cranes, landscape, and temple buildings (EAX.11089)    Octagonal tsuba depicting Yamabushi, or itinerant friars, carrying a portable book box (EAX.11090) Octagonal tsuba depicting Yamabushi, or itinerant friars, carrying a portable book box (EAX.11090)
Mokkō-shaped tsuba with wild geese amid clouds (EAX.11091) Mokkō-shaped tsuba with wild geese amid clouds (EAX.11091)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with flying wild geese (EAX.11092) Mokkō-shaped tsuba with flying wild geese (EAX.11092)    Tsuba with anchor amid waves (EAX.11093) Tsuba with anchor amid waves (EAX.11093)
Mokkō-shaped tsuba with flowers and basketwork, and a removable border (EAX.11094) Mokkō-shaped tsuba with flowers and basketwork, and a removable border (EAX.11094)    Tsuba with blossoming plum tree (EAX.11095) Tsuba with blossoming plum tree (EAX.11095)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with fly whisk and cherry blossoms (EAX.11096) Mokkō-shaped tsuba with fly whisk and cherry blossoms (EAX.11096)
Tsuba with lilies (EAX.11097) Tsuba with lilies (EAX.11097)    Tsuba with octagons containing geometric diapers, and a hawk (EAX.11098) Tsuba with octagons containing geometric diapers, and a hawk (EAX.11098)    Aori-shaped tsuba with butterflies amid clouds (EAX.11099) Aori-shaped tsuba with butterflies amid clouds (EAX.11099)
Tsuba with maple leaves (EAX.11100) Tsuba with maple leaves (EAX.11100)    Tsuba with maple leaves (EAX.11101) Tsuba with maple leaves (EAX.11101)
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