Artwork preview

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

This sword guard (Tsuba) has a dark brown outer edge with a wavy pattern. The central part is a grayish-blue color with gold inlays designed to look like tree branches. There is an oval-shaped hole in the middle, wider at the top and bottom and tapered in the middle.

Artwork Details

Date
ca. 1615–1868
Medium
Lacquer, leather
Culture
Japanese
Dimensions
600 × 600 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette