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Sword Guard

14th–15th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 378
Depicting the face of a wrathful Tibetan Buddhist guardian deity, this extremely rare sword guard was originally part of a complete and very lavish sword. It is from the peak period of Tibetan or Sino-Tibetan ironwork, coinciding with the rule of the Phagmodrupa kings in central Tibet and the Hongwu and Yongle dynasties in China. It is exceptional for the precision and crispness of its chiseling, punched work, and damascening; for the height of the raised decoration; and for the balance and cohesion of its overall design.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sword Guard
  • Date: 14th–15th century
  • Culture: Tibetan or Chinese
  • Medium: Iron, gold, silver, copper
  • Dimensions: H. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); W. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm); Wt. 7.55 oz. (214 g)
  • Classification: Swords
  • Credit Line: Gift of Steven Kossak, The Kronos Collections, 2014
  • Object Number: 2014.533
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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Tibetan or Chinese
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Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense), Iron, leather, gold, silver, brass or copper alloy, textile, Tibetan or Mongolian
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Tibetan or Mongolian
late 15th–early 17th century
Spear (Mdung), Iron, wood, leather, Tibetan
Spear (Mdung)
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18th–19th century
Equestrian Equipment Made for Yuthok Tashi Dundrup (g.yu thog bkra shis don grub, 1906–1983), Copper alloy, iron, gold, turquoise, wood, leather, textile, Tibetan, Derge
Equestrian Equipment Made for Yuthok Tashi Dundrup (g.yu thog bkra shis don grub, 1906–1983)
Tibetan, Derge
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