Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dark brown circular metal object with a large central hole cut into a distinctive shape resembling a vase or bottle. The central hole shape has a narrow top with a small circular protrusion, tapering down to a wider base with a flat bottom. To the right, a smaller oval hole. In the bottom-left corner, an embossed design of a bird, possibly a heron, with long legs and beak, and yellow accents around its eye and on its legs. The surface shows signs of wear and aging, with visible rust and scratches. The object is likely a sword guard, known as a tsuba, from a Japanese sword. The maker or artist of the tsuba is not visible.