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

A rounded metal object with a large central hole resembling a teardrop with the pointed end down. Two smaller circular holes are on the right of the central hole. A design resembling wavy lines or water is at the bottom. A bird on the left and another on the right are flying. The object is primarily gray with darker and lighter areas suggestive of shadow, wear or discoloration. The object has Asian writing on the left side of the central hole.