Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1615–1868
Medium
Iron, copper
Dimensions
H. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm); W. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 4 oz. (113.4 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
19.154.42
Art Historical Context
This finely crafted **Sword Guard (Tsuba)** from Japan, dating to the Edo period (ca.1615–1868), exemplifies the artistry of samurai fittings during a time of prolonged peace under the Tokug shogunate. Tsuba were essential components of the katana or wakizashi, shielding the hand from an opponent's blade while transforming a weapon into a wearable work of art. Produced by an unknown artisan, it reflects the era's shift from battlefield utility to aesthetic refinement, where sword guards became coveted objects among the warrior class. Forged from iron with copper accents, the tsuba measures 2 ...