Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Crests and Arabesques (家紋散唐草文鐔)

Koike Izumi no Kami Naomasa

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This iron tsuba is decorated with openwork family crests that are highlighted with brass inlay in a style that reached the height of its popularity at the end of the 16th century. When mounted between the sword’s blade and grip to protect the user’s hand, these crests would encircle the blade of the sword. This tsuba is part of a group of guards inscribed with the same name and honorary title, for which they are known as Yoshirō-tsuba (与四郎鐔). Differences in quality, signature style, and production time suggest that Koike Yoshirō Naomasa was the head of a Kyōto-based workshop which continued to make tsuba for a few decades into the 17th century.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art