Southern Chinese openwork sword guard
In the style of northern work of the 16th and 17th centuries
Assymetric dragon tsuba
Chinese work for the Japanese market.
Canton tsuba with 28 "jewels"
Canton work for the Japanese market, with 28 metal balls in separate compartments.
Early Canton tsuba
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
Lobed Canton tsuba
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
Canton tsuba with ship
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
Five dragon Canton tsuba
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
Water caltrop Canton tsuba
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
Facing dragon Canton tsuba
Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.
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.
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.
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.
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.