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

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

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This small tantō-tsuba has a polished finish (migaki-ji) and shows in relief (takabori) on the obverse (omote) two crickets (one in gold and one in copper), a grasshopper (in gold and shakudō), and a Chinese bellflower which is one of the Seven Autumnal Flowers. The reverse (ura) is only sparsely decorated with plants towards the bottom left. Throughout the Edo period, there were several artists with the name Masanaga active in Edo, i.e. Musashi province as stated in the signature. For example, two from the Bushū Itō (伊藤) School and two from the Nara (奈良) School.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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

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.