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An unpublished catalogue of the A. H. Church collection of Japanese sword-guards (tsuba) by Albert James Koop.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: 37 objects
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Aori-shaped tsuba depicting charms, coins, and three of the Seven Treasures
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Literature notes
Aori; on a ground etched with wood pattern (including the edge) are represented five coins and charms in low relief or in incrustation of shakudō and shibuichi; also, inlaid in gold-cloisonné enamel are three of the Seven Treasures (cash, clove, double axe-head).
Yasuchika style (Group XL), placed here because of the enamel. -
Details
- Associated place
- Date
- c. 1850
- Material and technique
- copper, with etched decoration, inlaid with shakudō and shibuichi, and gold wire cloisonné enamel; tang-hole plugged with soft metal, probably copper
- Dimensions
- 6.2 x 5.3 cm (height x width)
- Material index
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processed material › metal › alloy › copper alloy › shakudō,processed material › metal › alloy › copper alloy › shibuichi,processed material › metal › alloy › silver alloy › shibuichi,processed material › metal › gold,
- Technique index
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printed › intaglio print › etching,
- 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.11166
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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. 1166
Glossary (4)
cloisonné, shakudō, shibuichi, tsuba
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cloisonné
Decorative technique in which wires are attached to a metal body and coloured enamels are applied between the wires.
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shakudō
alloy of copper and gold, patinated to a dark blue-black colour
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shibuichi
alloy of copper and silver, patinated to a dull grey-green colour
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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
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The A. H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba)
Aori; on a ground etched with wood pattern (including the edge) are represented five coins and charms in low relief or in incrustation of shakudō and shibuichi; also, inlaid in gold-cloisonné enamel are three of the Seven Treasures (cash, clove, double axe-head).
Yasuchika style (Group XL), placed here because of the enamel.
Notice
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