Japanese Tsubas

In Japan, there is a long tradition of producing beautifully crafted weapons. An important part of these weapons is the tsuba – a sword guard that holds the blade on the sword and protects the wielder's hand. The most widely used material is iron, and the small plate can come in many shapes.

The sword was the samurai's most prized possession, and therefore the tsubas and other ornaments on the swords are often of a very high quality in terms of design. They are often decorated with family crests, religious symbols or motifs derived from nature. There were different Japanese schools when it came to the manufacturing of the tsubas, each school having their own distinct artistic expressions, such as Shoami, Kattehushi and Mito. In 1870, it was forbidden to carry swords in Japan, and therefore the production of tsubas stopped.

A Danish Private Collection

At the Online Auction, it will be possible to get a closer look at these wonderful designs when we present a large private collection of tsubas, which was established by the Dane Finn Poulsen (1937-2016) during the 1950s and 1960s. Some of the offered tsubas originate from the early Edo period, while others are from later periods.

Auction and Preview

The auction will take place online at bruun-rasmussen.dk and will end at 8 pm on Thursday 20 December. From 7 December until the day of the auction you are welcome to come by our location at Sundkrogsgade 30 in Copenhagen and have a closer look at the selection – we are open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm.

View all the lots and bid on the auction here