
- Tsuba
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Tsuba
- Place of origin:
Japan (made)
- Date:
ca. 1700-1750 (made)
- Materials and Techniques:
copper inlaid with copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudo</i>), holes with gilded linings
- Museum number:
M.236-1923
- Gallery location:
Japan, Room 45, The Toshiba Gallery, case 1
The tsuba is a protective guard fitted between the hilt and the blade of a sword. Originally they were simple iron disks, sometimes decorated by piercing or hammering in low relief. Later sword guards were more often made of copper alloys, patinated to a wide range of colours and inlaid with other coloured metals. Sword guards became miniature art forms, and different schools of makers developed their own unique styles.