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: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
c. 1615-1868
Copper, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi)
6.4in
29.100.1092
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection