Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dark brown metal object, oval shaped with a teardrop shaped hole in the center. The object has a scalloped edge and is decorated with a floral design. There are 14 radiating lines extending from the central oval section. The lines are thicker at the center and taper towards the edge. The floral design consists of leaves and curved shapes resembling petals or waves. The object appears to be made of metal, possibly iron or steel, and has a weathered appearance with visible signs of aging. The background is light gray. Sword Guard (Tsuba) by unknown artist.