Artwork preview

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The sword guard, or tsuba, made by an unknown artist, features a circular shape with a dark brown patina; two curved cutouts on either side of a central oval-shaped cutout; a bird flying near the top; a bearded man wearing a conical hat and armor on the right; and two other birds on the lower right and top left. Gold and silver inlays are used for the man's armor and the birds. The background of the image is light gray.

Artwork details

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