Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Browse: 637 objects

Reference URL

Actions

Send e-mail

Contact us about this object

Send e-mail

Send to a friend

Tsuba with dragons and shishi, or lion dogs

Glossary

tsuba

  • tsuba

    Japanese sword guard.

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • The A.H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba) by Albert James Koop

    The A. H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba)

    Rounded oblong; designs in sharp relief, the higher parts in incrustation of brass or copper; on the front are two ascending dragons and pearl, with a "long life" seal character below; on the back are four lions (shishi) with three brocaded balls and a peony flower below; plain border of circular section; long octagonal seppadai lightly engraved with scrolls and inlaid in copper with two lotus leaves and in brass with two lotus-pods.

    A very similar guard from the Hawkshaw Collection (no.316) is in the V. and A. M. The symbolism of various items in the design has a Buddhistic flavour.

© 2013 University of Oxford - Ashmolean Museum