Artwork preview

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dark brown sword guard, rounded rectangular shape with curved top edge and scalloped bottom edge. Two oval shaped holes on either side of a central elongated triangular hole. Top has three flying bird designs. Bottom has a design of a person holding an umbrella leading a horse with a large headdress. Gold inlays throughout design.

Artwork details

Date:
ca. 1615–1868
Medium:
Iron, copper
Culture:
Japanese
Dimensions:
600 × 600 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette