{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O461256"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O461256/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HW4845/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HW4845/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HW4845","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HW4847","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O461256/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O461256","accessionNumber":"M.967-1910","objectType":"Tsuba","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Hand-guard (<i>tsuba</i>) of a sword, carved in the form of a coiled snake\n\nThe tsuba is a practical device placed between the hilt and the blade giving protection to the hand as well as providing a medium for the Japanese metalworker to demonstrate his skills. Early tsuba were simple iron disks but these were sometimes pierced or hammered with low relief decoration. Various copper alloys were later used and these could be patinated to a wide range of colours and finishes and then inlaid with other coloured metal alloys. Tsuba became miniature art forms in their own right and many schools developed their own unique styles. ","physicalDescription":"Sword guard (tsuba). Shaped in the form of a striking coiled snake with bared fangs","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Zuiryūken Terutomo","id":"A30268"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"copper alloy","id":"AAT10942"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper-zinc alloy (<i>shinchū</i>) with silver gilding ","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2015HW4845","2015HW4847"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"45","id":"THES49801"},"free":"","case":"CA001","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Tsuba","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"c. 1860","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1870-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Salting Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"8.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Carved by Zuiryuken Terutomo","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Signed"}],"objectHistory":"Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. Exhibited at the Burlington Fine Arts Club, Exhibition of Specimens of Japanese Lacquer and Metalwork held in 1894 (as noted in Accessions Register).","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Sword guard (tsuba) in form of a coiled snake, copper-zinc alloy (shinchū) with silver gilding, Japan, about 1860. Signed Zuiryūken Terutomo.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"The tsuba is a protective guard fitted between the hilt and the blade of a sword. Originally they were simple iron disks, sometimes decorated by piercing or hammering in low relief. Later sword guards were more often made of copper alloys, patinated to a wide range of colours and inlaid with other coloured metals. Sword guards became miniature art forms, and different schools of makers developed their own unique styles.","date":{"text":"04/11/2015","earliest":"2015-11-04","latest":"2015-11-04"}}],"partNumbers":["M.967-1910"],"accessionNumberNum":"967","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1910,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-08","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}