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Sword Guard (Tsuba)

ca. 3rd–7th century
Not on view
This tsuba comes from a burial mound (kofun) in Shioda, in the Japanese province of Bizen, and is one of the earliest sword guards to survive from Japan. It was part of the exchange of objects between the Imperial Museum (later the Tokyo National Museum) and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was arranged by Bashford Dean in 1905–6.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba)
  • Date: ca. 3rd–7th century
  • Culture: Japanese
  • Medium: Bronze, gold
  • Dimensions: H. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); W. 2 5/16 (5.8 cm); thickness 1/8 in. (.3 cm); Wt. 1.3 oz. (36.9 g)
  • Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
  • Credit Line: Gift of Bashford Dean, by exchange, 1906
  • Object Number: 06.310.11
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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