Artwork Page for Sword Guard (Tsuba)

Details / Information for Sword Guard (Tsuba)

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

c. 1615–1868

Japan, possibly Edo period

(1615-1868)
Medium
iron with brass inlay
Measurements
Diameter: 9.3 cm (3 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of D. Z. Norton 1919.449
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
A tsuba, a circular iron sword guard, features a dark, textured surface. Three vertical openings pierce the center: a tall, tapered cutout flanked by smaller ovals. Thin yellow brass lines inlay decorative patterns. Overlapping arch-shaped lines repeat around the raised outer rim. Four stylized, four-petaled floral designs, detailed with looping lines, occupy the space between the openings and the edge. Organic strokes swirl across the dark metal disk.

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

c. 1615–1868

Japan, possibly Edo period (1615-1868)

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