Artwork preview

Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Brown sword guard with a scalloped edge, oval shape, and central cutout. Cutout is elongated with a wider top and narrower bottom. Two smaller cutouts, one on the right side and one on the bottom right side of the central cutout, are present. Four circular areas with a white background and a gold and silver four-leafed design. Small gold dots scattered around circular areas and etched designs of leaves or flowers around the edge.

Artwork details

Date:
17th century
Medium:
Copper, gold, silver, copper-gold alloy (shakudō)
Culture:
Japanese
Dimensions:
600 × 600 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette