Skip to main content

Tsuba with design of spider and web

18th century
Medium/TechniqueMain material: iron; other metals: copper sekigane; decorative technique: sukidashi-bori, sukashi-bori
DimensionsOverall: 8.2 x 8 x 0.4 cm (3 1/4 x 3 1/8 x 3/16 in.)
Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession number11.11542
On View
Not on view
ClassificationsArms and armor
Collections
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.
Tsuba with design of chrysanthemum heads
Kawaji Hisatsugu
Late 18th–early 19th century
Tsuba with design of cherry blossoms and bundles of faggots
Kawaji Hisatsugu
Late 18th–early 19th century
Tsuba with design of squirrels and grapes
Kawaji Rokuroemon
Early 19th century
Tsuba with design of pheasant, bridge and clouds
Umetada Yoshinobu
Late 18th–early 19th century
Tsuba with design of peonies
Toyusai
early to mid-19th century
Tsuba with design of koto bridges (ji) and paulownia leaves
Shoami Mitsushige
Late 18th–early 19th century
Tsuba with design of water-buffalo under a willow tree
Nara School
early to mid-19th century
Tsuba with design of chrysanthemum and cherry
Echizen Kinai School
Late 17th–early 18th century
Tsuba with design of sotoba, Genji-mon, flowers and cloud
Kamakura School
Late 16th–early 17th century