Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Dragon and Paulownia Leaves With Tendrils (龍と桐唐草図鐔)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The plate of this tsuba has a polished finish (migaki-ji) and is decorated on the obverse with a flush copper hira-zōgan inlay in the form of a dragon with partial gold highlights and golden clouds. The reverse shows a flush copper hira-zōgan inlay of paulownia leaves with tendrils and the rim is decorated in gold nunome-zōgan. A small opening has been added next to the opening for the tang (nakago-hitsu), probably for some kind of retention clip.

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