Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Aoi (Heartvine) Chapter of The Tale of Genji

Cleveland Museum of Art

A Japanese sword guard with a dark brown color and a circular shape. The guard has an oval-shaped hole in the center and is decorated with a pattern of leaves and vines. There are gold accents on the lower part of the guard. The top features a rectangular design with vertical lines, flanked by wavy patterns resembling wings or clouds. The background of the image is dark gray, gradually becoming lighter towards the bottom. The guard appears to be made of metal and has a weathered appearance. A fan-shaped design is present at the bottom of the guard. The guard is symmetrical, with identical patterns on either side. The leaves and vines are intricately carved. The overall design suggests a traditional Japanese motif. The guard is titled "Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Aoi (Heartvine) Chapter of The Tale of Genji" and is by an unspecified artist.