Artwork preview

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image shows a sword guard, or tsuba, with a rough, dark brown, rusted surface. The tsuba has an oval-shaped hole in the center; the top end comes to a point. The surface is pockmarked with tiny holes and pits. Small flecks of orange rust are scattered across the surface. The background is a plain gray color. The tsuba is by an artist unknown.

Artwork details

Date:
ca. 3rd century–710
Medium:
Iron
Culture:
Japanese
Dimensions:
600 × 600 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette