Taizan Motoaki - Tsuba with Dragons in Cartouches - Walters 51333

This tsuba is decorated with six cartouches of dragons and a ground of fine fish egg ("nanako-ji") patterning. Four appear on the front and two are on the back. Each dragon is executed in a different metal. Dragons are a symbol of power and popularly depicted in Japanese art. Both secondary holes of this tsuba have been plugged.