Tsuba

  There are many sword fittings but the most prominent is the tsuba (hand guard), which protects the hand from slipping forward onto the blade.   To begin with, tsuba were plain, practical, and usually made of iron because of its strength, like the one seen here.  However, because the Edo period (1600-1868) was relatively peaceful, swords were used less and so the fittings became more decorative.   The choice of tsuba design displayed the owner's status and personal taste.  They became small metal sculptures usually featuring flowers, leaves and animals or geometric patterns.  They were often made from copper alloys, with elaborate openwork, or carving, or decorated with alloys of gold, silver and copper, like this one.