Tsuba (sword guard) with Dragon Design
Artist/Culture
Nanban School
(Japanese)
Date1700s
Mediumiron, silver, gold
Dimensions6 × 7 cm (2 3/8 × 2 3/4 in.), 4 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.538
Label TextThis tsuba is in the "Nanban" style characteristic of Hizen province. The port of Nagasaki in Hizen was the only point of access to Japan for foreign merchants. "Nanban" means "foreign," and Nanban tsubas often showed foreign influence--as with the European-style lettering on this example.ProvenanceCollection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.On View
Not on view
