Sword Guard with Design of the Chrysanthemum and Stream

Sword guard used to be a utility to protect fists in a battle but it gradually started to appear as a craft with an open-work or inlay. ln Edo period，it reflected the ever-lasting peace of the period and it became more and more exquisite and splendid.The exquisiteness or the design of a sword guard which decorates a hilt showed the owner's sense or social status as inro or netsuke did.