{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O75227"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O75227/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8673/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8673/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT8673","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O75227/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O75227","accessionNumber":"M.608-1916","objectType":"Tsuba","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"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.","physicalDescription":"The tsuba is in the form of a tea-kettle with the features of the tanuki from the story of Bunbuku chagama.  The head and paws of the tanuki emerge from the tea-kettle and the lower part is assuming a furry coat.  The priest reels back in amazement at this spectacle.  The teabowl and whisk on the floor are ready for the preparation of his tea.  This humorous piece is made of sentoku (a type of brass) with inlays of shakudo, gold and copper.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Ichijosai","id":"AUTH336409"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Shinchu (copper/zinc alloy - a form of brass), with inlays of shakudo, silver, gold and copper","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"}],"styles":[{"text":"Late Edo","id":"AAT106658"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AT8673"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"TSUBA","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"early 19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"8.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Met, Japan, SF, MEIJI-EXPORT","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.608-1916"],"accessionNumberNum":"608","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1916,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-02-25","availableToBook":false}}