Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Birds in Bamboo

Cleveland Museum of Art

The tsuba, a sword guard crafted by an unknown artist, features a circular shape with a dark, weathered metal finish. The guard showcases a central oval-shaped hole for the sword blade, surrounded by an intricate design. The design consists of a pair of birds perched on a bamboo branch with leaves, positioned on either side of the central hole. One bird faces left, while the other faces right. The guard's surface exhibits a textured appearance with visible signs of aging and wear. The background of the image transitions from black at the top to dark gray at the bottom.