East Asia, Japan, Edo Period, ca. later 18th to early 19th century CE. A fabulous forged-iron maru-gata (round) tsuba, a disc-shaped hand guard traditionally employed on Japanese swords. There is a decorative opening to one side of the Nakago-ana (central blade opening), and upon close examination one can see that the surfaces were embellished with organic and figural motifs. Size: 3" W (7.6 cm)
A tsuba is the hand guard of a traditional Japanese sword, usually a katana or tachi. Its primary purposes are to balance the sword, prevent one's hand from sliding down the blade and, as a last resort, as a block against an opponent's thrust or slash. However, as time and skills developed, the tsuba evolved into an artistic item and symbol representing wealth, prestige, or skills as a swordsman. Early tsuba, known as neri tsuba, were made of leather encased in an iron or wooden frame which was occasionally lacquered for strength and stability.
Lucite stand for photographic purposes and is not included.
Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000.
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#159745
Condition
Surface wear commensurate with age. Close inspection reveals the remains of a decorative program adornng the surfaces, but the motifs are difficult to discern. Iron has developed a rich age patina.