Sword Guard (Tsuba) in the Japanese Style

late 17th–early 18th century

Not on view

This is an example of a Southeast Asian sword guard that combines stylistic elements from European smallsword guards with Asian forms of decorative styles. With this mixture of styles, this piece can be recognized as part of a rare but distinct group of sword guards currently categorized under the term “Asian Export Sword Guards” that were commissioned by maritime traders such as the Dutch. Due to the opening added later to accomodate a utility knife (kozuka), this guard was probably used at some point in time in Japan.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba) in the Japanese Style
Date: late 17th–early 18th century
Culture: Sri Lankan
Medium: Copper alloy
Dimensions: Diam. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); thickness 1/4 in. (0.6 cm); Wt. 4.7 oz. (131 g)
Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Credit Line: Gift of James Lancel McElhinney, 2019
Object Number: 2019.163.1
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Sword Guard (Tsuba), Iron, gold, enameled cloisonné (shippō), copper, Japanese — Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Japanese
17th century

Dagger with Scabbard, Steel, iron, gold, rubies, emeralds, glass, wood, textile, Indian, Mughal — Dagger with Scabbard
Indian, Mughal
1605–27

Pair of Flintlock Pistols of Empress Catherine the Great (1729–1796), Johan Adolph Grecke Russian, Steel, ivory, gold, brass, Russian, Saint Petersburg — Pair of Flintlock Pistols of Empress Catherine the Great (1729–1796)
Johan Adolph Grecke
1786

Smallsword, Steel, brass, wood, Sri Lankan (Ceylon, for the European market) — Smallsword
Sri Lankan (Ceylon, for the European market)
ca. 1700–1725

Helmet (<i>Hoshi- Kabuto</i>) in the 16th-Century Style, Saotome Ienari Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, Japanese — Helmet (*Hoshi- Kabuto*) in the 16th-Century Style
Saotome Ienari
probably late 17th–early 18th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.