Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image shows a Sword Guard (Tsuba) by an unknown artist. The object is circular and made of dark brown metal with a gold rim. The metal has a weathered appearance with visible signs of aging and wear. There are three large holes cut out of the metal: one long, thin oval in the center and two more oval shapes on either side. The surface of the metal features intricate designs and patterns, including curved lines and swirling shapes. The background of the image is a plain light gray color. The overall appearance suggests that this is an antique or traditional Japanese sword guard.