Artwork preview

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Round, flat, black metal object with gold floral designs around the edge. The object has a textured surface. Three holes are in the center, one long and thin, teardrop shaped, and two oval shaped on either side. The gold designs are made up of small flowers and leaves. The background is light gray. The object is a sword guard, known as a Tsuba, created by an unknown artist.

Artwork details

Date:
ca. 1615–1868
Medium:
Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, copper
Culture:
Japanese
Dimensions:
600 × 600 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette