Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Herons (鷺図鐔)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The obverse (omote) of this tsuba shows on the top left in high relief (takabori) a flying heron in silver and on the bottom right a heron in silver standing in water between reed and water grasses in gold and shakudō. The reverse (ura) is more sparsely decorated and only shows on the bottom left one heron in silver standing in water and next to water grasses in gold, silver and shakudō. The face of the rim is decorated in a golden Greek key pattern.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art