Decortype › Metalwork › Arms & Fittings

Tsuba & sword fittings

Japan tradition · 5 examples · indicative market tier: $500–5k (accessible antique & fine living craft)

Japanese sword mountings are the various housings and associated fittings (tosogu) that hold the blade of a Japanese sword when it is being worn or stored. Koshirae (拵え) refers to the ornate mountings of a Japanese sword (e.g. katana) used when the sword blade is being worn by its owner, whereas the shirasaya is a plain undecorated wooden mounting composed of a saya and tsuka that the sword blade is stored in when not being used. Wikipedia →

Types & examples

Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Fence and Flower
Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Fence and Flower, c. 1615–1868
Cleveland Museum of Art
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Sword Guard (Tsuba), 1615–1868
Cleveland Museum of Art
Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Elephant in Pine
Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Elephant in Pine, c. 1800
Cleveland Museum of Art
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Sword Guard (Tsuba), c. 1800
Cleveland Museum of Art
Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Treasure Motifs
Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Treasure Motifs, c. 1615–1868
Cleveland Museum of Art

Where to buy

1stDibsHigh-end antiques & design marketplaceBrowse listings → LiveAuctioneersAggregated live auctions worldwideBrowse listings → InvaluableAuction-house listings & price archiveBrowse listings → Christie'sMajor-auction results & upcoming salesBrowse listings → EtsyLiving artisans & vintage dealersBrowse listings → eBayBroad secondary market — vet sellers carefullyBrowse listings →

Each link opens a live, image-rich search for this craft on that marketplace. Listings rotate constantly; authenticate significant pieces independently — attribution quality varies widely outside museum collections.