Artwork preview

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dark brown circular sword guard with three central cut-out shapes; two rounded on left and right, and a teardrop shape in the middle. A gold and black dog sits at the bottom center with head tilted back. A plant with long leaves and gold accents extends from bottom right up to top center. Small gold plant-like designs scattered around bottom and right side.

Artwork details

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