Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Hanshan and Shide (寒山拾得図鐔)

Round, dark gray metal object with a weathered appearance. Two oval-shaped holes, one larger than the other, are cut out from the center. The larger hole is teardrop-shaped with the pointed end facing down. A design on the right side depicts two men in traditional clothing, one above the other. The man on top holds a white object. The men are rendered in a darker gray than the background, with gold accents on their clothing and the object. Gold-colored Japanese characters are inscribed at the bottom left. The object has a thin gold edge.