Sword Guard (Tsuba) Depicting Biting Lion Heads (Shikami) and Arabesques (獅噛唐草図南蛮鐔)
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.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.