Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With the Motif of Paulownia Leaves, Tendrils, and Butterfly (蝶に桐唐草図鐔)

Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With the Motif of Paulownia Leaves, Tendrils, and Butterfly (蝶に桐唐草図鐔)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The obverse of this tsuba is polished and shows a relief of paulownia leaves, tendrils, and a butterfly whereas the reverse is apart from a vertical file stroke finish undecorated. It bears however the name Tō’u (東雨) in relief which was an art name used by several generations of the Tsuchiya Yasuchika (土屋安親) lineage.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With the Motif of Paulownia Leaves, Tendrils, and Butterfly (蝶に桐唐草図鐔)Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With the Motif of Paulownia Leaves, Tendrils, and Butterfly (蝶に桐唐草図鐔)Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With the Motif of Paulownia Leaves, Tendrils, and Butterfly (蝶に桐唐草図鐔)Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With the Motif of Paulownia Leaves, Tendrils, and Butterfly (蝶に桐唐草図鐔)Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With the Motif of Paulownia Leaves, Tendrils, and Butterfly (蝶に桐唐草図鐔)

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.