A Korean sword guard
Adjusted for use on a Japanese sword.Kiyou Toujin tsuba (崎陽唐人鐔)
Japanese style sword guards made by Chinese craftsmen in Nagasaki.Asian export sword guard
An interesting pierced iron Asian export sword guard that is part of a small group of guards that were made with a mu
Dāo hūshǒu (刀護手)
Qing Chinese for "saber guard".Iron ship sword guard
A chiseled iron sword guard depicting a Dutch ship with a figure on its stern.Sinhalese export sword guard
A large circular Asian export sword guard with elaborate decor carved in relief on both sides.Asian export sword guards
Sword guards that were made across Asia, specifically with export in mind.Classic Choshu ship tsuba
The work nice and crisp, the execution has a naturalistic charm to it.Fine Canton-style export sword guard
Introduction
Many Asian export sword guards, and later Japanese guards inspired by them, were modeled after
"Love of Lotus" Korean guard
Description
Korean ceremonial sabers of the Joseon dynasty are pretty small and often exhi
Asian export disc guard
The design, overlaid in silver, gold, and copper, over a crosshatched background shows dragon amongst clouds.Ezo style tsuba
Introduction
What are today known as "Ezo fittings" are a style of Japanese sword mounts that are character
A Japanese nanban style tsuba
Description
An interesting little sword guard, of fairly simple form with designs carved i
Chinese openwork (loukong) saber guard
The archetypical Chinese sword guard of the 17th century.Asian Export sword guard
Private collection. Not for sale.
Converted Chinese guard
A purely Chinese guard and not a very ornate one, converted for Japanese use.Nanban tsuba & Asian export sword guards
For long, "nanban tsuba" literally "Southern barbarian sword-guards" have been a catch-all classification for sword guards for Japanese swords (tsuba), that show foreign influence.Chinese export sword guard
An iron openwork guard two dragons chasing a flaming pearl.
A nanban tsuba with Christian orb
A near round tsuba with beaded rim depicting two dragons in vegetal scrollwork.
A nanban tsuba
A rather good example of a Japanese-made nanban tsuba.