Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1615–1868
Medium
Iron, silver, pewter, copper
Dimensions
H. 3 3/16 in. (8.1 cm); W. 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); thickness 5/16 in. (0.8 cm); Wt. 4.4. oz. (124.7 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
29.100.1071
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant **Sword Guard (Tsuba)** hails from Japan during the Edo period (. 1615–1868), a time when samurai culture flourished under the Tokugawa shogunate peace, elevating sword fittings from mere protection to exquisite art forms. As the hand guard on a katana or wakizashi, the tsuba prevented the hand from slipping onto the blade while serving as a canvas for intricate designs. Measuring just 3 3/16 inches high, its compact form belies its masterful craftsmanship, weighing a substantial 4.4 ounces. Forged from iron and adorned with inlays of silver, pewter, and copper, this tsuba exempl...