Sword guard (tsuba) depicting the Buddhist deity Benzaiten riding on a dragon
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c.1860
Sword guard, tsuba , of copper-silver alloy shibuichi . Modelled and decorated in low relief with gold, silver, copper and copper-gold alloy shakudō , edge hammered-up and hole plugged with silver.
Depicts the Buddhist deity Benzaiten, goddess of knowledge and music, riding a dragon through the clouds while holding a zither ( koto ) in its brocade case. Signed 'Hata Nobuyoshi' with artist's seal. The tsuba is a practical device placed between the hilt and the blade giving protection to the hand as well as providing a medium for the Japanese metalworker to demonstrate his skills.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Height 81 ml; Width 77 mm
- Materials and techniques
- Copper/silver alloy (<i>shibuichi)</i> decorated with gold, silver, copper and copper/gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i><i>)</i>
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- Japan
Identification
- Candidate id
- vam-O464797
- Museum object number
- M.257-1911
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type and source attribution against specialist references.