Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Iron, copper
Dimensions
Diam. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 3.6 oz. (102.1 g)
Classification
Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Funds from various donors, 1946
Accession Number
46.122.108
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Sword Guard (Tsub)** from 18th-century Japan exemplifies the masterful fusion of function and artistry in samurai sword fittings. Crafted from iron with copper accents, it measures just 2 7/8 inches (7.3 cm) in diameter and weighs a sturdy 3.6 ounces (102.1 g), to protect the wielder's hand while securing the blade to the hilt. The tags hint at intricate plant motifs, a common theme in tsuba designs evoked nature's resilience and seasonal beauty, rendered through precise piercing, chiseling, or inlay techniques. During Japan's Edo period (1603–1868), tsuba evolved from purely...