Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Biting Lion Heads (<i>Shikami</i>) and Arabesques (獅噛唐草図南蛮鐔)

Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Biting Lion Heads (<i>Shikami</i>) and Arabesques (獅噛唐草図南蛮鐔)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The rim area of this Nanban-style tsuba is decorated with arabesques and forms a cartouche which shows the symmetrical gold and shakudō design of demon heads and fern-like flowers on the obverse and an asymmetrical gold and shakudō design of flowers on the reverse. The edges of the hitsu-ana (openings for scabbard accessories) are highlighted in gold and the rim shows traces of a gold nunome-zōgan décor.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Biting Lion Heads (<i>Shikami</i>) and Arabesques (獅噛唐草図南蛮鐔)Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Biting Lion Heads (<i>Shikami</i>) and Arabesques (獅噛唐草図南蛮鐔)Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Biting Lion Heads (<i>Shikami</i>) and Arabesques (獅噛唐草図南蛮鐔)Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Biting Lion Heads (<i>Shikami</i>) and Arabesques (獅噛唐草図南蛮鐔)Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Biting Lion Heads (<i>Shikami</i>) and Arabesques (獅噛唐草図南蛮鐔)

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.