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Tsuba with design of a dragon
Japanese
Edo period
early to mid-19th century (?)
Medium/Technique
Main material: iron; other metals: gold; shakudo plug; decorative technique: sukashi-bori, marubori, zogan
Dimensions
Overall: 7.3 x 7 x 0.9 cm (2 7/8 x 2 3/4 x 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.12504
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsArms and armor
Signed
Tetsugendo Naoshige, with a kao; Tenmei kyu tsuchinoto-tori shogatsu kichinichi [Tetsugendo Naoshige, on an auspicious day in the ninth year of Tenmei, tsuchinoto-tori (=1789)]
鉄元堂敏行（花押）天明九己酉正月吉日
鉄元堂敏行（花押）天明九己酉正月吉日
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.