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Source Description
This tsuba has a raised rim that gives it the appearance of an inkstone. The upper right is decorated with a dragon. At the lower right is an inkstick decorated with a phoenix. Rather than purchasing liquid ink ready to use, individuals would make their own ink by grinding an inkstick in an inkstone to which a little water had been added. Only enough of the stone would be ground to create ink for the immediate use. On the reverse of the tsuba are peacock feathers decorated with gold enamel. The central opening for the blade has been plugged. This tsuba appears to be unused.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
1476
label
Tsuba in the Shape of an Inkstone with Inkstick
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
2
Source metadata
id
1476
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Tsuba in the Shape of an Inkstone with Inkstick
description
This tsuba has a raised rim that gives it the appearance of an inkstone. The upper right is decorated with a dragon. At the lower right is an inkstick decorated with a phoenix. Rather than purchasing liquid ink ready to use, individuals would make their own ink by grinding an inkstick in an inkstone to which a little water had been added. Only enough of the stone would be ground to create ink for the immediate use. On the reverse of the tsuba are peacock feathers decorated with gold enamel. The central opening for the blade has been plugged. This tsuba appears to be unused.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
n.d. (Edo-Meiji)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Arms & Armor
tsubas
sword components
imageCount
2
pageCount
2
source
import
dimensionsRaw
3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm)
Source extras
cul
Japanese
inscriptions
none
med
iron, silver, gold
creator_ids
6194
collection_ids
JMA
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
46db5242bcc1455e
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
90e4f2451f7b6914
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no