Tsuba (Sword Guard) and Bags
19th century
Medium
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
5 1/2 x 7 3/8 in. (14 x 18.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
JP1991
Art Historical Context
This exquisite woodblock print, *Tsuba (Sword) and Bags*, byo Shunman (1777–1845), captures the refined elegance of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868). Created in the 19th century as a *surimono*—a luxurious, privately commissioned print often produced for special occasions like New celebrations—the work showcases a sword guard (*tsuba*) alongside ornate bags. Measuring just 5½ x 7⅜ inches, its intimate scale invites close viewing, revealing Shunman's mastery of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" style that celebrated everyday beauty and artistry. Surimono like this one stand out for the...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820