Hand guard 1725 - 1825

Editor: So, this interesting metalwork is called “Hand guard,” created between 1725 and 1825, crafted by Nukagawa Yasunori, using bronze and other metals. It has a slightly somber tone, like an old coin with miniature scenes. I am curious about the depictions here… what story does it try to convey? Curator: Oh, I see a secret garden of miniature delights. Don't you feel that way, as if gazing into another world? The bronze transforms a functional object into something incredibly precious. I like to think the artist sprinkled a little bit of stardust in the metal mix when creating it. Who might wield such a weapon, you think? Editor: It’s intriguing to imagine who carried it! And you are right about the stardust; the gold accents bring so much warmth to this otherwise muted palette. The figures, almost playful in a way, add to that. Was there a specific narrative from folklore being depicted here, or was it just a flourish of imagination, you think? Curator: Perhaps both! Isn’t it possible the artist created a personal pantheon of their own imagination? This guard becomes more than just a protection. It is an emblem of one’s character and inner beliefs… The person who carried it wanted, I bet, to say a little bit about themselves through it, just like we are doing now looking at it, years later. Editor: That’s beautiful… almost like wearable poetry, in a way! Now that I understand a bit more about its role, I really feel connected to this artifact and its creator. Curator: Yes! Isn’t that what good art does best? Now I wonder what tales it could tell. Thanks, I also learned from this.