Title: Antique Tsuba Set
This item is a set of 8 antique Tsubas. Please check the photos and explanations. We recommend this item to those who will start collecting antique Tsubas. Of course, it is suitable for everyone who cherishes Japanese art and culture. You will obtain various Tsubas at once. Please kindly check each Tsuba.
Description
T-532: This Tsuba is decorated with autumn plants. You would also find an autumn insect resting on a Japanese pampas grass leaf. One of these plants is probably chrysanthemum flowers. Chrysanthemum symbolizes fall, and people have greatly appreciated it since ancient times. As its petals form radially, the chrysanthemum has been likened to the sun. That is why this flower pattern is treated as the symbol of perpetual youth and longevity or good health.
T-533: A kind of leaves are designed on both sides. Golden paint is applied to these leaves. While some of them have already faded due to aging, this coloring adds decorativeness to this work.
T-534: You would find an older adult holding a light in his hand and walking through the grass. A garden lantern is standing in front of him. And a crescent moon pattern is engraved on the Hibukuro (火袋, the place where the lights are stored). There is a depiction of a released broom on the backside. It makes us feel this Tsuba has a dramatic theme.
T-535: It depicts the figure of an older man sitting on his heels. He seems to be he is meditating. Looking at both sides of this Tsuba, you would find pine trees, mountains, and wild grasses are carved. You might even feel a sacred atmosphere from his figure passing in nature.
T-536: You see a man looking up at the sky. If you follow his line of sight, it seems he is looking at the moon floating in the sky. The moon has been sacred since ancient times and has been treated as an object of faith in some religions. We are unsure, but that kind of thinking might have influenced this Tsuba’s design.
T-537: Its design is similar to T-536. If you focus on the center part of this Tsuba, you will find an engraved inscription. It is written as follows: 山城國伏見住 金家 (Yamashiro-no Kuni-Ju, Kanaie). It means this Tsuba was made by Kanaie, who lived in the Fushimi area of Yamashiro prefecture (today’s Kyoto prefecture). The signature Kanaie is seen on T-536 also.
T-538: This Tsuba has a symmetrical design. We could associate the water wheel form its shape. The waterwheel was developed as a familiar tool for daily life and was often used for Kosode (小袖, a kind of traditional Japanese costume) in the Edo period.
T-539: Fine file patterns are engraved on this Tsuba. We believe it is a type of the Amida Yasuri (阿弥陀鑢) design. It is a type of decorative carving technique that is used for the ground of the Tsuba. Thin lines are engraved with a file, and these lines are radiated from the center of the Tsuba. As this design looks similar to the halo of Amida Nyorai (阿弥陀如来, Amitabha Tathagata), this technique was named Amida-Yasuri. It is also called Hiashi-Yasuri.
*As this item is an antique, please check each photo and ensure its condition. We hope you would enjoy this tasteful work.
Size | Nakagoana | Weight | |
T-532 | 8.0cm × 8.0cm × 0.4cm | 2.9cm × 0.9cm | 171g |
T-533 | 7.4cm × 7.3cm × 0.5cm | 3.0cm × 0.9cm | 143g |
T-534 | 8.2cm × 7.6cm × 0.4cm | 2.8cm × 0.8cm | 124g |
T-535 | 8.1cm × 8.0cm × 0.4cm | 2.7cm × 0.8cm | 162g |
T-536 | 6.5cm × 6.0cm × 0.4cm | 2.9cm × 0.7cm | 83g |
T-537 | 8.3cm × 7.5cm × 0.5cm | 3.0cm × 0.8cm | 150g |
T-538 | 6.5cm × 6.3cm × 0.4cm | 2.9cm × 0.7cm | 66g |
T-539 | 7.0cm × 7.0cm × 0.3cm | 2.8cm × 0.8cm | 131g |
What is Tsuba?
Tsuba is the hand-guard of the Japanese sword. High-class Samurai wore his Katana sword with its beautiful sword mountings such as Tsuba. Tsuba’s front design tends to be more decorative as this part was often seen by other Samurais when he was walking on the streets.
Why is it that the sword mounting was important for Samurai?
The sword mountings of the Japanese sword have many kinds of decorations such as handguards (Tsuba), sword hilt (Menuki), pommel (Fuchi Kashira). The Japanese sword worked as a weapon and as an object to show who he was. For example, it shows their personalities and beliefs. You could say that it is like decorations for smartphones today. We recommend you zoom in on the pictures of the sword fittings. When you do so, you can see the skill of Japanese metal engraving techniques. They are mainly made of iron and copper with inlays of gold, silver, and bronze. When it comes to handguard (Tsuba), each one has a different outline and weight. These sword fittings that have lived with Japanese swords of the same age might be worth as much as the Japanese swords. They are inconspicuous parts of the Japanese sword. Nevertheless, if you are knowledgeable or particular about it, you will become a connoisseur of the Samurai.
*The wooden box shown in the photo is included with this Tsuba set. You could store Tsubas in this box. The cloth under Tsubas would be different from the picture.
【About us】
Samurai Museum is located in Tokyo, Japan, exhibiting antique artifacts related to the Samurai history. Samurai Museum Shop is the place for those who are interested in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. We deal with antique Samurai swords/armor, traditional crafts made in Japan and so on.
【Payment method】
We accept payment through Stripe (Credit card), PayPal, Apple Pay or ChromePay, all of which are secure payment methods. Also, you don’t need to make an account on Stripe for the checkout. If you prefer other payment method, please contact us. You may either pay in JPY, USD, AUD, CAD, EUR, CHF or GBP. The price is set in Japanese Yen. Prices in other currencies are automatically calculated based on the latest exchange rate.
【Shipping duration】
We normally ship via EMS (Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. It usually takes at least 5-14 days to deliver the package after you place an order. Time of delivery is estimated as accurately as possible by the carrier but does not take into account any delays beyond our control such as by inclement weather, post office holiday seasons.
We offer Free International Shipping as long as we can ship your order by EMS. If you prefer other shipping carriers, please
contact us.
We will inform you of the order’s tracking number via email. Please make sure you fill out your valid email address correctly.
*Please keep in mind that due to the spread of COVID-19, there might be possible delays in delivery. If you like to make
sure if EMS shipping is available to your country, please contact us.
【How to make sure the condition】
Please keep in mind that what you are going to purchase is an antique item. We uploaded high resolution photos for you to check its condition thoroughly. If you like to see more photos with different angles, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to send them to you so that you can make informed decision.
It is essential for us to know that you are happy with your choice of Tsuba and we are prepared to use the best of our ability to serve you.
【How to appreciate Tsuba】
While Tsuba is a small component of Japanese sword mountings, we would say it is one of the most conspicuous parts. Also, unlike the blade itself, Tsuba has a low risk of handling. Furthermore, it does not require a large space for storage. Thus, Tsuba is relatively easy to collect. Here we would like to propose a few ways to enrich your Tsuba experience after purchasing your favorite Tsuba.
-Inspection
Inspect and feel the artistry of Tsuba. You will be amazed by the maker’s work quality to make it look a great work.
-Find the right place to display
Tsuba would look great when displayed in the best way. Find the best place in your house, your office, or anywhere you like, so that Tsuba would be appreciated as much as you like.
※These photos are the example of Tsuba stand and how to place the Tsuba.
-Learn the details
Tsuba reflects quite a lot of detailed features of its maker. Sometimes you can find the maker’s signature on Tsuba. Tsuba makers tried adding elaborate artistry to Tsuba. Many techniques were invented to achieve this goal, such as openwork, engravings, and gold/silver inlays. There were many schools that trained Tsuba makers, and each of them has different characteristics. You would enjoy knowing these differences and find your beloved style.
-Arrange in modern style
We want to propose the way that you could enjoy the Tsuba as jewelry. By stringing a cord into the center hole of the Tsuba, it could be worn as a necklace. This modern way would show you a new charm of Tsuba. Here are the examples of neckless.
【Give the Tsuba as a special gift】
Are you looking for a special gift for a person who is interested in Japanese culture? We recommend you to give an antique Tsuba as a present for your significant other. Tsuba is an integral part of the Samurai sword, which was once a primary weapon for Samurai. Each Tsuba is a unique item and has a different design. We hope it would be a memorable gift. Now it is time for you to share the beauty of a piece of Samurai history with your family members or friends, for instance. Also, gift wrapping is available for Tsuba; it is for free. Here is an example of wrapping. For more information, please feel free to contact us. It is always our pleasure to serve you.
Would you like see some more Tsuba for sale? Please check the link below. We hope you can find your favorite Tsuba.
https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product-category/decorations/tsuba/