Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1615–1868
Medium
Iron, copper
Dimensions
H. 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); W. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 3.4 oz. (96.4 g)
Classification
Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Bashford Dean, 1919
Accession Number
19.154.36
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Sword Guard (Tsuba)**, crafted from iron and copper during Japan's Edo period (ca. 1615–1868), served as a vital component of the samurai sword. Positioned between the blade and hilt, the tsuba protected the hand while doubling as a canvas for artistic expression. Its modest dimensions—about 3 inches across and weighing just 3.4 ounces—belie its robust construction and cultural weight, reflecting the era's blend of martial utility and refined craftsmanship under the peaceful Tokugawa shogunate. Japanese tsuba makers excelled in techniques like piercing (sukashi) and inlaying ...