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“Tsuba” with plant motifs and two herons
Anonymous, japanese. Late 18th century
7,9 cm (diameter)
18th century. End
82/1028
Donación de doña María de Arechavaleta, de la colección de don José Palacio
From the late 18th century, this circular tsuba has plenty of openwork, over which are herons with branches and leaves. The lateral orifice has been plugged with a metal alloy, being a completely pierced openwork piece with the decoration placed on it. Some authors believe these more elaborate tsuba were produced as collectors¿ pieces rather than for use on swords. (Fernando García Gutiérrez, 2008)
Selected bibliography
- Arte japonés y japonismo [Cat. exp.]. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa-Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2014. pp. 162, 508-511, 515-517, n° cat. 26.
- García Gutiérrez, Fernando. "Tsuba : Japoniako zaldunen ezaugarri bat. Tsuba bilduma Bilboko Arte Eder Museoan = Un signo distintivo de los caballeros de Japón. Colección de tsuba en el Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao = The Mark of the Kinghts of Japan. The Tsuba Collection at the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum", B'07 : Buletina = Boletín = Bulletin, n° 3. 2008. pp. 101-159.
- Caeiro Izquierdo, Luis. La Cultura Samurai : armas japonesas en las colecciones españolas [tesis inédita]. Madrid, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 1991.
- Sala Ivars, Marcos Andrés. "Estudio y catalogación de las colecciones públicas de sables japoneses en el País Vasco", Ars Bilduma, n. 11. 2021. p. 75.