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
Measurements
Diameter: 8.3 cm (3 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of D. Z. Norton 1919.505
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
A circular, dark brown iron sword guard exhibits a heavily pitted, weathered surface. A vertical wedge-shaped opening sits at the center, flanked by a smaller, rounded aperture. Four delicate openwork blossoms surround these central holes: two five-petaled blossoms at opposite corners and two flowers with eight slender, radiating petals. This rustic tsuba balances its rugged, oxidized texture with the elegant symmetry of its floral cutouts.

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

c. 1615–1868

Japan, possibly Edo period (1615-1868)

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