Artwork Page for Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Mice and Rice

Details / Information for Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Mice and Rice

Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Mice and Rice

c. 1615–1868

Japan, possibly Edo period

(1615-1868)
Medium
bronze
Measurements
Average: 6.7 x 7 cm (2 5/8 x 2 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of D. Z. Norton 1919.411
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
An oval bronze sword guard, its copper-brown surface textured with hammered indentations, features a central wedge-shaped opening and a smaller side hole. Arcing dark-charcoal relief rice stalks frame the top and sides. In the lower right, a large mouse and a smaller companion, both with tiny gold-dot eyes, clutch at the rice sprigs. The dark patina of the figures contrasts against the aged, mottled background.

Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Mice and Rice

c. 1615–1868

Japan, possibly Edo period (1615-1868)

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