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An unpublished catalogue of the A. H. Church collection of Japanese sword-guards (tsuba) by Albert James Koop.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, 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)
Mokkō-shaped tsuba depicting a tiger running by a stream (EAX.11069)
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 with tigers in storm (EAX.11072)
Tsuba with blossoming plum tree and chrysanthemum plant (EAX.11073)
Tsuba with blossoming plum tree (EAX.11074)
Tsuba with Saxifraga japonica plant (EAX.11075)
Tsuba depicting a vixen being impregnated by the moon (EAX.11076)
Aori-shaped tsuba with tea ceremony cauldron and poem (EAX.11077)
Aoi-shaped tsuba with peonies and butterflies (EAX.11078)
Tsuba with soy bean and leaves (EAX.11079)
Tsuba with chidori, or flying birds, and waves (EAX.11080)
Tsuba with susuki grass, grasshopper, and locust (EAX.11081)
Aori-shaped tsuba with butterflies and susuki grass (EAX.11084)
Tsuba with soy bean (EAX.11085)
Octagonal tsuba with tiger in a stormy landscape (EAX.11086)
Mokkō-shaped tsuba with swimming duck (EAX.11087)
Tsuba with ants, paulownia, and chrysanthemum (EAX.11088)
Tsuba with cranes, landscape, and temple buildings (EAX.11089)
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 flying wild geese (EAX.11092)
Tsuba with anchor amid waves (EAX.11093)
Mokkō-shaped tsuba with flowers and basketwork, and a removable border (EAX.11094)
Tsuba with blossoming plum tree (EAX.11095)
Mokkō-shaped tsuba with fly whisk and cherry blossoms (EAX.11096)
Tsuba with lilies (EAX.11097)
Tsuba with octagons containing geometric diapers, and a hawk (EAX.11098)
Aori-shaped tsuba with butterflies amid clouds (EAX.11099)
Tsuba with maple leaves (EAX.11100)
Tsuba with maple leaves (EAX.11101)
Notice
Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.
© 2013 University of Oxford - Ashmolean Museum