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

The object is a circular sword guard, also known as a tsuba. The center has an elongated oval-shaped hole with curved sides and a straight top and bottom. The oval hole is surrounded by an oval shape that encompasses it entirely. The guard has a scalloped edge with a repeating pattern of curved shapes resembling a fleur-de-lis. There are four identical curved shapes protruding from the inner edge, two on the left and right and one at the top and bottom. These shapes contain leaf-like designs and are connected by thin lines to the oval shape surrounding the hole and to each other. The guard appears to be made of metal, possibly copper or bronze, with a brown patina. The background of the image is white. The tsuba is by an unknown artist.