A friend inherited a Japanese Tsuba collection and wanted a simple wall display. New to me, a little research revealed that Tsubas serve as hand guards on the traditional katana and wakizashi swords. I read that in a philosophical sense, they transition the offensive nature of the sword to the defensive role of the guard. Over the centuries (14th -16th), they evolved from simple steel plates into a stylized art form refined by artisans, some of whose decendants reportedly now handcraft modern Japanese chisels. They are unique, collectable and some are quite expensive.   

Seemed like these relics called for something more that a box so in keeping with the theme  of “transition” I decided to mimic the equally traditional Torii gate that is often viewed as guarding the tranquility within from the chaotic world beyond. The “hashira” (posts) of the gate bracket the sides of the display box , the “shimaki” ( beams) form the capital and the “gakuzuka” holds the inscription. I selected virola for its light weight and rich natural tones that contrast nicely with the figured sycamore interior. Each Tsuba is mounted on a cocobolo pedestal with a brass thumb nut behind a drop-down glass cover. The external parts of the piece are finished with antique oil and the internals are done with poly.

A simple yet educational project.

Launch Gallery