Hand guard with monkeys c. 1800 - 1900

This hand guard, or Tsuba, was made in Japan by Tsunetada. Though we don't have a date for the piece, its function as a sword fitting offers insight into its cultural context. The Samurai class, with its strict code of honor and martial skills, dominated Japanese society for centuries. Swords were more than weapons; they were symbols of status, and their fittings reflected the owner's taste and affiliations. This Tsuba is decorated with monkeys. While the monkey is one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, it also carries associations with trickery and playfulness. It's possible that this Tsuba alludes to the importance of adaptability and cleverness, even in the rigid social hierarchy of feudal Japan. The art of sword-making was highly regulated, and artisans like Tsunetada were part of a complex system of patronage and production. Historical records, clan archives, and the study of metalworking techniques can shed light on this object. By examining the social conditions that shaped its creation, we can better understand the values and beliefs of the world in which it was made.