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
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette