Tsuba with flying phoenix

Tsuba with flying phoenix is held by Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe (Germany). Description supplied by the holding institution: The oval sword guard, a so-called "tsuba", belongs to the "nagamaru gata" type. The guard shows a flying phoenix on the obverse. On both sides a bush with leaves of the aoi plant is depicted. Individual details of the depiction are highlighted in gold. The openings for the utility knife "kozuka", the so-called ("kozuka hitsu-ana"), were subsequently sealed with gold. "Tsuba" are Japanese sword guards made of iron, copper, or copper alloys that sit between the hilt and the blade of a sword. In the center of the guard is an opening for the tang of the sword. Two additional openings are provided for a small utility knife ("kozuka") and a hair-styling skewer ("kôgai"). Tsuba protected the hand against the opponent's sword and from the risk of slipping onto one's own blade when thrusting. In Japan, tsuba possessed status symbol value. They embodied the aesthetic principles and the social standing of the… The collection record gives measurements height: 8.15 cm, width: 8.05 cm, depth: 0.6 cm (total). Published through Europeana; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.