Tsuba in the Shape of a Plum Branch

Tsuba in the Shape of a Plum Branch is held by Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe. Museum description: The circular, openwork sword guard, a so-called "tsuba", belongs to the "maru gata" type. A curved plum branch with blossoms and buds follows the curve of the rim. Attributing the tsuba to a specific school is not easy. Plausible candidates include the "Higo", "Hayashi", or "Akasaka" school. "Tsuba" are Japanese sword guards made of iron, copper, or copper alloys that sit between the hilt and blade of a sword. In the center of the guard is an opening for the sword tang. Two additional cutouts are provided for an auxiliary knife ("kozuka") and a sword needle ("kôgai"). Tsuba protected the hand from the opponent's sword and from the danger of slipping onto one's own blade when thrusting. In Japan, tsuba held status symbol value. They embodied the aesthetic principles and social standing of the The museum record gives measurements height: 8.2 cm, width: 8.05 cm, depth: 0.45 cm. These details come from the holding museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.