Artwork preview

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Round, flat, bronze-colored metal object with a central hole and a smaller oval hole on the left. Two dragonflies are depicted on the right and top with black bodies, gold details on their abdomens, and wings with gold veins. The dragonflies' wings and bodies have a glossy finish. The background of the object has a matte finish.

Artwork Details

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