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

Dark brown, oval-shaped sword guard with a wavy edge, featuring two central cutouts, one oval and one elongated. The guard has a textured, diagonal striped background. Gold and black decorations include a tiger on the right side with gold stripes and flames or waves behind it. A tree branch with pine needles and a small bird are on the top. A flying bird and another bird on the ground are on the bottom left. Small, raised pine needles are scattered around the design. The sword guard by artist Suzuki (Gassan) Munezane.