MUSEUMS. 85 



Japan : — 



The following 24 Tsiibas or Sword Guards were y)resented by 

 E. Gilbertson, Esq., of Ilfracombe, per J. L. Bowes, Esq., Japanese 

 Consul in Liverpool, who has most kindly furnished tl:e descriptions : — 



1. — Tsuba, iron, pierced. Two Dragons, XVI. Century. 



2. — Tsuba, iron, pierced. Two Sea Dragons, one holding a gilt 

 tama ; the claws, &c., in silver and gold. 



3. — Tsuba, iron, imitating weather-worn wood. Wasp and Plant 

 in gold. 



4. — Tsuba, iron, pierced ; hammer-marked surface. A Rishi 

 attended by a demon with a head of red bronze. The head 

 of the Rishi in silver, his dress damascened. 



5. — Tsuba, iron. Dragon in gold, passing through the guard. 



6. — Tsuba, iron. Horses in a meadow. Signed, Kawaji 

 Tomomichi of Nagato. 



7. — Tsuba, iron. Chrysanthemums, in low relief, and damascened. 



8. — Tsuba, iron. Gentoku coming to the peach garden, Komei 

 seated in a paA'ilion Damascened. Signed, Soheishi Niudo 

 Soten. 

 9. — Tsuba, iron, pierced. The Battle of Ishibashiyama, 1181 a.d. ; 

 the figures damascened in gold and silver. Signed, 

 Soheishi Soten. 



10. — Tsuba, iron. Jurojin, god of longevity, with a crane, plum 

 tree, and flower, in gold, silver and shakudo. * 



11. — Tsuba, iron, pierced. Bean pod and leaves. Signed, 



Tsunemasa. 

 12, — Tsuba, shakudo, with manako ground. Chrysanthemums 



in gold and silver, 

 13. — Tsuba, shakudo, with manako ground. Chinese subject, 



a horseman crossing a bridge, with other figures in various 



metals. 

 14. — Tsuba, shakudo, with manako ground. Yoshiiye causing 



water to flow from a rock by striking it with his bow. 



* Shakudo :— An alloy with 2 to 5 per cent, of gold and silver. 



