Two sword guards "tsuba"

Description

iron, a) quatrefoil form (“mokko”), two “hitsu-ana” filled, partly openworked with floral decor, gold damascening, m: 7 cm x 7,5 cm; b) oval form (“kaku gata”), relief-decor on both sides: dragon amidst waves with white crests, resp. amidsts flowers and tendrils, m: 7 cm x 7,5 cm, old age patina;
the “tsuba” is situated between handle and blade of the Japanese sword and should prevent the hand from sliding onto the blade.
“Tsuba” consist of metals like iron, copper or copper alloys. “Tsuba” are mostly round (“maru gata”), rounded-square (“kaku gata”) and four-lobed “mokko”. The plates are provided with cut-outs. The angle of the sword is stuck through the opening in the middle, called “nakago ana”, the smaller lateral openings “hitsu ana” were used for small knife “kozuka” and sword needle “kogai”. In early times “tsuba” were thought purely functional, in times of peace during the Edo period (1603-1868) they evolved into their own art form and became valuable objects for collecting.