Introduction

Among Nanban tsuba there is a genre that is best described as "Asian export sword guards," and among those, there is a distinct group that was made in China, for the Japanese market. The production center was most likely Canton.

For more information, see my article: Nanban tsuba, a Canton group.

This example

With the characteristic lingzhi mushroom elements in the center, surrounded by pierced openwork with fine openwork with eleven undercut elements. The designs feature five tiny dragons of an archaic type, in playful poses. upper left. The rim is beaded with an inner raised ring on each side.

It has copper inserts in the tang opening, indicating it had been fitted to a sword.