Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Fans

Cleveland Museum of Art

The object is a dark brown, oval-shaped metal guard with a central oval-shaped hole. The guard has a decorative design featuring fans with handles and blades. The fans are arranged in a symmetrical pattern, with the handles pointing towards the center of the guard. The blades of the fans are depicted in a curved shape, with some details in gold and red. The guard has a textured surface with visible signs of wear and aging. The background of the image is dark gray, which helps to highlight the details of the guard. The guard appears to be made of metal, possibly iron or steel, and has a traditional Japanese design, specifically a tsuba. The tsuba is adorned with a design of fans. The overall shape and design of the guard suggest that it was used to protect the hand while holding a sword. The guard has a distinctive shape, with a flat, wide body and a curved top and bottom. The fans on the guard are depicted in a stylized manner, with bold lines and geometric shapes. The use of gold and red accents adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to the design. The guard's surface has a rough, weathered appearance, suggesting that it has been used extensively.