Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Lily Motif (百合図鐔)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The obverse of this tsuba shows three lily (Japanese: yuri, 百合), two open with their flowers occupying the upper and bottom right areas, and one closed flower closed towards the left. The pistils are inlaid in gold and slilver and the reverse makes use of much undecorated space, showing just one lily with two closed flowers. Kaneyasu studied with master Tanaka Tōryūsai Kiyotoshi (田中東龍斎清寿, 1804-1876) in Edo and moved afterwards to Aizu where he also worked in the local Aizu-Shōami style. Kaneyasu’s real name was Iwata Bennosuke (岩田弁之助). There is a dated work from Kōka four (弘化, 1847) known which roughly informs us about his active period.

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