Japanese copper tsuba signed Masa Yuki
Object No. 239A-1

The Tsuba is the flat disc generally round, forming the guard of the Japanese sword, perforated in the centre to admit the blade, and generally with two other perforations, one for the ko-dzuka and the other for the kogai, a skewer-like instrument used for planting in the body of the opponent . The finest work of the artist has gone into the fashioning of the tsuba, and many are themselves, beautiful works of art. The earliest are of iron, but later bronze and other alloys were used, and they became very elaborate. The design often consisting of some historic scene, is generally overlaid with gold and silver, or with shakuda, copper, or one of various alloys. With the prohibition of the wearing of swords in 1868, the art deteriorated and good old tsuba’s are now hard to procure.

Summary
Object
Statement

Tsuba (sword guard) (1 of 3), flowers, shakudo / gold / copper, signed Masa Yuki, Japan, date unknown
Physical Description

A circular shakudo (alloy of copper and gold) metal tsuba with a flat surface decorated with an embossed flower vine and ants to both sides. There is a central triangular tang hole (nakago-ana) in the centre to admit the blade.
DIMENSIONS
Width

72 mm
Depth

78 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes

Aquisition notes state that the tsuba was made by Masa Yuki in Japan, at an unknown date.

The making of tsuba began in around the late 14th century, originally serving a practical purpose being to balance the sword, as well as protect the hand from sliding up the blade of the sword during battle. However tsuba gradually developed a more decorative and symbolic function, particularly during the relatively peaceful Tokugawa, or Edo period, where samurai increasingly became courtiers, bureaucrats, and administrators rather than warriors and swords took on a more symbolic emblem of power.

During the Muromachi period (1392-1572) tsuba became a separate industry to sword manufacturing. A number of well-defined schools and styles of tsuba making developed, and craftsmen began inscribing their names on their work. Originally made of iron, later tsuba incorporated bronze and other alloys, with elaborate designs overlaid with gold, silver, copper or shakudo. Shakudo is a low content gold alloy, usually 2-7% gold and the rest copper. Sometimes small amounts of other metals are added. The effect is an attractive blue black patina. Although some tsuba were made specifically for warfare, often with minimal decoration, others were made for display at court and featured elaborate decoration or incorporated motifs and inscriptions that reflected the strength, personality and ambitions of the wearer.

In March 1876, during the Meiji period (1868-1912), the Hatôrei edict was passed, officially abolishing the samurai as a class and thus ending their privilege of carrying swords. A large number of specialist craftsmen were left without a regular source of income and began producing finely crafted objects such as jewellery and ornamental pieces. Some metal workers continue the traditional craft of tsuba production, and tsuba are today considered highly-skilled works of art.

REF:
Bilney, Elizabeth (ed), ‘Decorative Arts and Design from the Powerhouse Museum’, Powerhouse Publishing, 1991
Richards, Dick, ‘Japan: Three Worlds’, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide 1999
Sasano, Masayuki, ‘Early Japanese Sword Guards’, Japan Publications Inc, San Francisco, 1972
Irvine, Gregory, ‘The Japanese Sword: The Soul of the Samurai’, V & A Publications, London, 2000
Robinson, B W, ‘The Arts of the Japanese Sword’, Faber and Faber, London, 1961
Sato, Kanzan, ‘The Japanese Sword’, Kodansha International Ltd, San Francisco, 1983