Keywords: Noda Mitsuhiro II - Tsuba with One Hundred Monkeys - Walters 51112.jpg One hundred monkeys was a typical motif for Mitsuhiro and other members of his school A multitude of monkeys are carved into the body of the tsuba Their eyes are highlighted in gold Hidden throughout the design are monkeys with special characteristics In the upper portion are the three monkeys who see no evil hear no evil and speak no evil At the bottom two monkeys are neck-wrestling with a rope tied around their necks In the upper left section is a monkey carrying fan or a baton Below a monkey holds a giant peach At the lower right a monkey has a bag over its shoulder This tsuba is similar to another in the Walters collection by the same artist made of silver 51 133 Other known examples by Mitsuhiro are almost all in the same style with a single motif carved throughout the tsuba between 1748 1823 late Edo sentoku gold copper cm 7 28 6 92 0 47 accession number 51 112 14744 Henry Walters Baltimore date and mode of acquisition unknown Walters Art Museum Henry Walters Acquired by Henry Walters Transcription Hishu Yagami ju/Mitsuhiro; Translation Living at Yagami in Hizen province/Mitsuhiro; Transcription Sentoku kin i saku kore; Translation This was made with sentoku and gold place of origin Edo present-day Tokyo Japan Walters Art Museum license Tsuba in the Walters Art Museum Noda Mitsuhiro II Media contributed by the Walters Art Museum needs category review Reliefs of monkeys on Japanese sword fittings |