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An unpublished catalogue of the A. H. Church collection of Japanese sword-guards (tsuba) by Albert James Koop.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 founder, Akao Yoshitsugu I, [Japanese text], born towards 1700 at Fukui in Echizen, was a samurai in the service of the Matsudaira, lords of that province. His son, Yoshitsugu II, moved the school to Yedo, leaving a branch behind in Echizen. Pierced and modelled designs showing Kawaji and Kinai influence are characteristic of this provincial branch, but the Yedo school pursued a development of the Akasaka style, in which positive silhouettes of natural or artificial objects are reduced to forms so conventionalised as sometimes to defy identification.
Tsuba with three fans (EAX.10732)
Tsuba with himono, or dried salmon (EAX.10733)
Tsuba with five sails (EAX.10734)
Lenticular tsuba with a fan and Chinese crown (EAX.10735)
Tsuba with gosan-no-kiri, or paulownia leaves (EAX.10761)
Tsuba with five dragonflies (EAX.10762)
Tsuba with fisherman's net and wild geese (EAX.10763)
Tsuba with ware-ōgi, or broken folding fans (EAX.10764)
Tsuba with star shape (EAX.10765)
Tsuba with egg fruits (EAX.10766)
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