Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1615–1868
Medium
Iron, copper, gold, brass
Dimensions
H. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm); W. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); thickness 1/4 in. (0.6 cm); Wt. 6.9 oz. (195.6 g)
Classification
Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
29.100.960
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Sword Guard (Tsub)**, crafted in Japan during the Edo periodca. 1615–1868), served as a protective hand guard on samurai swords like the katana. Far from mere utility, tsuba evolved into prized works of art during this era of relative peace under the Tokug shogunate, when sword fittings became symbols of status, craftsmanship, and cultural refinement. Measuring just 3⅝ × 3½, this iron example showcases the meticulous skill of anonymous Edo metalworkers, who transformed functional armor into sculptural beauty. The tsuba's surface features intricate inlays of copper, gold, and ...