Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1615–1868
Medium
Copper, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), silver, gold, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), copper alloy (sentoku)
Dimensions
H. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm); W. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 5.8 oz. (164.2 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
29.100.1040
Tags
Art Historical Context
This finely crafted sword guard, or *tsuba*, hails from Japan's Edo period (ca.1615–1868), a time of relative peace when samurai refined their sword mountings into exquisite works of art. Positioned between the blade and handle of a katana, the tsuba served both as a hand guard and a canvas for intricate designs, blending functionality with aesthetic splendor. Measuring about 3⅜ inches high and weighing nearly 6 ounces, this example reflects the era's emphasis on metalwork in arms and armor. Fashioned from an array of alloys—copper, shakudō (a copper-gold patina that darkens to black), shibui...