Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
A tsuba is a sword guard and part of a sword mounting. It is mounted between the sword’s blade and grip to protect the user’s hands.
Credit: Gift of Mrs. George A. Crocker (Elizabeth Masten), 1937
Late 18th century
Copper alloy (sentoku), copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper
7.6in
38.25.37
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection