Artwork preview

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Round, dark gray metal object with a raised edge, featuring a design of curved lines and shapes resembling bamboo. The object has a textured surface with visible wear and a light blue-gray coloration on the raised parts of the design. The design consists of several curved lines and shapes, including two large oval-shaped cutouts. The object appears to be made of metal, possibly iron or steel, and has a weathered appearance.

Artwork details

Date:
ca. 1650
Medium:
Iron, silver, gold, copper
Culture:
Japanese
Dimensions:
600 × 480 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette