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秋草に鹿図鐔 Sword Guard (Tsuba)

19th century
Not on view
This is arguably the best among nine works by Murasakibara Toshiyoshi (紫原壽良, 1829—?) in the Museum’s collection. Over a central circular openwork, which represents the moon, this sword guard (tsuba) depicts a deer and autumnal vegetation. A drawing of this very piece is featured in Ranzan Tsuneyuki’s Album of Designs for Metal Carving (acc. no. 36.120.699). The precision of the drawing, down to the faithfully copied signature and monogram, suggests that Tsuneyuki had direct access to Toshiyoshi’s work. Additionally, slightly different drawings of this sword guard in Tsuneyuki’s sketchbook suggest that the artist was experimenting with his own designs based on Toshiyoshi’s work.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: 秋草に鹿図鐔 Sword Guard (Tsuba)
  • Fittings maker: 紫原壽良画 Murasakibara Toshiyoshi (Japanese, born 1829)
  • Date: 19th century
  • Culture: Japanese
  • Medium: Copper, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, silver
  • Dimensions: H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); W. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 3.6 oz. (102.1 g)
  • Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
  • Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
  • Object Number: 29.100.1011
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Drawing for Metalwork (Toshiyoshi also called Kosō, Seijō, or Toshinaga)
紫原壽良画 Murasakibara Toshiyoshi
late 19th century
金工絵 Copy book of Toshiyoshi (also called Kōsō, Seijō, or Toshinaga), 紫原壽良画 Murasakibara Toshiyoshi Japanese, Ink on bound paper, Japanese
金工絵 Copy book of Toshiyoshi (also called Kōsō, Seijō, or Toshinaga)
紫原壽良画 Murasakibara Toshiyoshi
late 19th century
Sword Guard (Tsuba), Omori Hidenaga Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, copper, silver, Japanese
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Omori Hidenaga
18th century
Sword Guard (Tsuba), Iron, copper, Japanese
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Japanese
late 14th century
Sword Guard (Tsuba), Hirata School Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, enameled cloisonné (shippō), copper, Japanese
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Hirata School
ca. 1615–1868

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