Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image shows a bronze-colored sword guard with a heron, flower, and leaves. The sword guard is square with rounded corners and has a dark brown patina. A large heron in silver and gold metal is on the bottom right, with its neck stretched out in front. The heron appears to be wading in water, as indicated by the engraved lines beneath it. A large yellow flower and several dark leaves are on the top right. There are two cutouts in the center of the sword guard, one oval and one shaped like an upside-down keyhole. The background behind the sword guard is light gray. The sword guard by its shape and features appears to be a Tsuba, a type of Japanese sword guard.