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Tsuba with design of Kan'u (Guan Yu) guarding the wives of Gentoku (Xuande), from the Sangokushi (Sanguozhi)
Tsuba with design of Kan'u (Guan Yu) guarding the wives of Gentoku (Xuande), from the Sangokushi (Sanguozhi)

Tsuba with design of Kan'u (Guan Yu) guarding the wives of Gentoku (Xuande), from the Sangokushi (Sanguozhi)

Masanaga (Japanese)
Nara School (Japanese)
early to mid-19th century
Medium/TechniqueMain material: shakudo; surface treatment: migaki-ji; other metals: gold, silver, copper and shibuichi; decorative technique: shishiai-bori, iroe
DimensionsOverall: 6 x 4.9 x 0.4 cm (2 3/8 x 1 15/16 x 3/16 in.)
Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession number11.11989
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.