Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With the Motif of Insects and Autumnal Vegetation (秋草に虫図鐔)

The tsuba is a dark brown color with a curved shape featuring a large cutout on its left side. A distinctive teardrop-shaped hole is positioned centrally. Three insects are depicted on the tsuba: a gold one on the bottom left, a copper one on the top right, and a black and gold one on the bottom right. Yellow and black vegetation is visible on the bottom and right side. A cluster of autumnal vegetation, including a flower and leaves, is on the right side. Small, vertically stacked Japanese characters are inscribed on the left side.

Artwork Details

Date: 18th century
Medium: Gold, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), silver, copper, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi)
Culture: Japanese
Dimensions: 600 × 600 px
Public Domain: Yes
Museum Record: View original

Palette