Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1800
Medium
Iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold, bronze, copper
Dimensions
H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); W. 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 3.1 oz. (87.9 g)
Classification
Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1912
Accession Number
12.37.176
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Sword Guard (Tsuba)*, crafted around 1800 during Japan's Edo period, served as a vital component of the katana sword, protecting the hand while showcasing the wearer's status. Tsuba were far more than functional; they embodied the samurai's refined aesthetic, blending utility with artistry in the hands of skilled metalworkers. Produced in an era of relative peace, when swordsmanship symbolized cultural prestige over battlefield use, this piece reflects the height of Japanese sword furniture craftsmanship. Fashioned primarily from iron, the tsuba features intricate inlays of sh...