Sword Guard (Tsuba)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a rusty, corroded metal object, a Sword Guard (Tsuba) by an unknown artist. The object is circular with a large central hole and several smaller holes of varying shapes; it has a rough and uneven texture with visible signs of rust and corrosion. The color is predominantly dark brown with spots of lighter brown and orange, indicating heavy oxidation. The shape is irregular with jagged edges and surfaces. The object appears to be made of metal, likely iron or steel, given the rust and corrosion. The background is a plain light gray color, providing a neutral contrast to the object.