{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O465406"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O465406/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HW4755/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HW4755/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HW4755","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HW4756","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O465406/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O465406","accessionNumber":"M.237-1911","objectType":"Tsuba","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Sword guard (<i>tsuba</i>) depicting Bishamonten, guardian warrior and god of wealth, and Benzaiten, goddess of knowledge and music.\t\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, <i>tsuba</i>, copper-silver alloy <i>shibuichi</i> with engraving and low relief decoration of gold, silver and the copper-gold alloy <i>shakudo</i>.  \n\nDecorated with Bishamonten, guardian warrior and god of wealth, and Benzaiten, goddess of knowledge and music on the front, and Daikoku with Hotei's sack on the back.  \n\nSigned 'Joi' with the seal 'Nagaharu'.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sugiura Issando Nagaharu Joi","id":"AUTH337452"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":"Signed 'Joi' and marked 'Nagaharu'. \r\nSugiura Issando Nagaharu Joi, 1701-1761\r\n\n<A href=\"http://www.shibuiswords.com/JOIHaynes.htm\">http://www.shibuiswords.com/JOIHaynes.htm</A>\n "}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"shibuichi","id":"x45719"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"shakudo","id":"x45038"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>) carved and inlaid with gold silver and copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>)","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2015HW4755","2015HW4756"],"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":"1750–1800","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"70","unit":"ml","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"65","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Joi'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Signed"},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"With the seal of Nagararu"}],"objectHistory":"Purchased from Yamanaka & Co. (127 New Bond Street, W.), accessioned in 1911. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Met, Japan, SF, JOI\r\nSword guard (<i>tsuba</i>) depicting Bishamonten, guardian warrior and god of wealth, and Benzaiten, goddess of knowledge and music.\t","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.237-1911"],"accessionNumberNum":"237","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1911,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-08","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}