Winged dragon tsuba
A fine and unusually large tsuba. Attributed to Hizen by the NBTHK.
Peony karakusa tsuba
Executed in "nanban style" openwork with chiseled and gold-encrusted peonies.
Sawasa style iron guard
Unusual piece with depiction of a foreign figure.
Unusual dragon gate guard
Asian sword guard of unknown origin, modified in Japan.
Cast iron compass rose guard
A peculiar cast iron sword guard, probably from the South China Seas area.
Chinese hùshǒu with lantsa script
A Chinese sword guard from the 18th century with a Buddhist mantra in lantsa script.
Kiyou-Toujin Tsuba
A Japanese style sword guard made in 17th century Nagasaki Chinatown.
House of Aviz tsuba
A Japanese sword guard with the cross of the House of Aviz.
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
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.
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.
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.