Skip to main content
Tsuba with design of flying birds (one missing) and reeds
Tsuba with design of flying birds (one missing) and reeds

Tsuba with design of flying birds (one missing) and reeds

Nara School (Japanese)
mid-late 18th century
Medium/TechniqueMain material: iron; other metals: gold, copper, shakudo and shibuichi; copper sekigane; decorative technique: sue-mon, zogan, taa=kabori
DimensionsOverall: 8.2 x 7.9 x 0.5 cm (3 1/4 x 3 1/8 x 3/16 in.)
Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession number11.12010
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 tiger and dragon
Nara School
early to mid-19th century
Tsuba with design of Daruma
Nara School
late 18th–early 19th century
Tsuba with design of grazing horses
Shoami School
Late 17th–early 18th century
Tsuba with design of many horses
Jakushi
mid-19th century
Tsuba with design of an unidentified samurai episode
Kitagawa Sôten
Late 18th–early 19th century
Tsuba with design of a gathering of Chinese scholars
Kitagawa Sôten
mid-late 18th century
Tsuba with design of shrine attendant with lamp and umbrella
Tsuchiya Yasuchika
Late 18th–early 19th century (?)
Tsuba with design of sparrows, hares and waves
Katô Mitsutsugu
mid to late 19th century
Tsuba with design of chrysanthemums and insects
Late 18th–early 19th century (?)
Tsuba with design of toad and bamboo
letomo
Late 18th–early 19th century