sword guard (descriptive name)

tsuba

oval steel disc with openwork leaf design and 3D carving, signed, gold inlay which was possibly a later addition

Tsuba (sword guards) were used to protect the sword wielder's hands from sliding onto the blade. They are usually finely decorated, incorporating traditional motifs and designs and made from a variety of metals, such as iron, steel, brass or shakudo - an alloy of copper and gold.

20862.6 (ethnology)

M945 (miscellaneous)

Applied Arts and Design