About Alexander.
Alexander Grimm is a European collector of Japanese swords and sword fittings, with a particular focus on tosogu: The metal mountings that once formed part of the samurai sword.
His interest lies in the artistic and cultural dimension of these objects. Tosogu are often small in scale, yet they represent some of the most refined achievements of Japanese metalwork. Within only a few centimeters, generations of craftsmen captured landscapes, mythology, poetry, humor, and subtle expressions of nature.
Over the years, Alexander has assembled a small but carefully selected collection that spans several periods and schools. Many of the pieces date from the Koto and early Edo periods, reflecting a time when sword fittings balanced functionality with increasingly sophisticated artistic expression.
Through tosogu.eu, he shares this collection and the fascination behind it. The site aims to introduce newcomers to the world of Japanese sword fittings while also contributing to the broader appreciation of this often overlooked art form.
Alexander maintains close connections within the international community of collectors, scholars, and dealers in Europe, Japan, Australia and North America. His approach remains that of a collector: driven by curiosity, aesthetic appreciation, and the quiet discovery of objects that reveal more the longer one studies them.
Alexander lives in Frankfurt, Germany and is a member of the N.B.T.H.K (European Branch) and is engaged in the Nihonto Club Germany.