Sword Guard (Tsuba)

Japanese sword guard with a predominantly dark brown color and gold accents. The guard is circular and features a central oval-shaped cutout with a teardrop-shaped hole within it, accompanied by a smaller oval hole to the left. A bird, likely an eagle, is depicted on the right side with its wings spread, appearing to dive towards the bottom. The bird's head is rendered in dark brown with gold eyes, while its talons and some of its feathers are accentuated with gold. The bottom of the guard displays several horizontal gold lines, resembling water. The background of the guard features an etched design. The overall composition presents a striking contrast of dark and light elements. Sword Guard (Tsuba) by Goto Kojo.

Artwork Details

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

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