唐草図鐔 Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>)

鷲田光中作 Washida Mitsunaka

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Washida School was founded by Mitsutoki (光時, 1743–1803), the son of a samurai from the northern part of Japan (Shōnai domain, present-day Yamagata Prefecture) who went to Edo (Tokyo) to become a sword-fitting maker. Mitsunaka (光中, 1830–1889), who made this sword guard (tsuba), was one of the school’s last great artists. He focused on the revival of classical sword-fitting designs, as is the case with the scrolling leaves in flush inlay here, decoration seen on many sixteenth-century sword guards.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art