Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Guardian of the Buddha (仁王図鐔)

Brown metal object with rounded rectangular shape. Two rounded rectangular openings in center. Upper half has smooth surface. Lower half features a sculpture of a creature with a large head and bulging eyes and sharp teeth. Sculpture wears a headdress made of gold metal. The creature wears a sash over left shoulder. The sash is decorated with gold metal. The creature holds a staff wrapped in fabric in its left hand. A gold metallic object sits atop staff. Part of the background design behind creature features gold metal decoration.