This sword guard is an iron tsuba of round form, attributed to the Onin school and placed in the Muromachi period, which the listing gives as 1392 to 1572. The plate is pierced in the sukashi manner and carries brass inlay, and it is unsigned. It is a thin guard, a trait the supplier flags as early, and it measures 7.9 centimeters across, roughly three inches. Condition is described as good. It is catalogued as SKU MGJ83.

A guard this size sits comfortably in the hand and reads well in a frame or a shallow drawer, so it fits a New Jersey collector who wants a period iron piece with brass work rather than a later soft-metal guard. It also serves as a reference example for anyone comparing Onin inlay against other Muromachi schools. Because the plate is thin and old, keep it dry and limit handling; the supplier grades it good and gives no further detail on the surface, so rely on the photographs for the finer points.

Key features

• Round iron tsuba, sukashi openwork
• Onin school, brass inlay, unsigned
• Muromachi period, 1392-1572
• Thin early plate, 7.9 cm across
• Good condition

This tsuba goes to your New Jersey door by ordinary carrier; no dealer is involved.