Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image displays a bronze-colored circular object with a central cutout. Oval in shape, the object has a bronze base color with a darker patina. The surface features a textured pattern resembling waves. A long, narrow, triangular cutout is positioned vertically in the center. The object is adorned with various raised designs, including seashells, starfish, and coral. The seashells vary in shape and size, with some featuring a mother-of-pearl sheen. The coral is depicted in a golden hue, while the starfish and other details are rendered in silver and gold. The background is a plain gray color. The object is a sword guard or tsuba, created by an unknown artist.