Japanese Iron Maru Gata Tsuba
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Edo Period
This Japanese sword guard, known as a tsuba, is crafted in the maru gata (round) style. Attributed to the Edo period, the object is constructed of iron. The tsuba is decorated on both sides with intricate floral and scrolling vine motifs, executed with inlay of gold and silver.
These decorative elements provide a high-contrast embellishment against the dark iron ground of the disc. The item features the traditional central aperture for the sword blade, flanked by two auxiliary openings commonly used for the storage of utility tools like the kozuka or kogai. Measuring 3 inches in length, this specimen exhibits subtle wear patterns that are consistent with its age and historical use. As a functional component of a Japanese sword mount, the tsuba serves both as a hand guard and as a significant element of aesthetic expression in Japanese metalwork traditions.
This piece represents the refined craftsmanship typical of its period, blending technical metalwork with classic organic decorative themes.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Length
- 3 inches
- Material
- iron, gold, silver
Technical characteristics
- Shape
- maru gata
Design
- Decoration
- gold and silver inlaid floral and scrolling vine
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.