Artwork preview

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The object is round with a scalloped edge and has a dark brown border. The main body of the object is made of interlocking brown pieces arranged in a geometric pattern. In the center, there is a large oval-shaped cutout with a rust-colored metal piece. To the left of the oval cutout, there is a smaller oval cutout. On either side of the oval cutout, there are gold and black designs that resemble birds or other animals on clouds. The background of the image is light gray. The object appears to be a sword guard, also known as a Tsuba, created by an unknown artist.

Artwork details

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