Human Generated Data

Title

Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Landscape Designs

Date

18th to 19th century

People

-

Classification

Armor

Credit Line

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Margot Warner, 1984.224

Human Generated Data

Title

Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Landscape Designs

Date

18th to 19th century

Classification

Armor

Credit Line

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Margot Warner, 1984.224

Machine Generated Data

Tags

Amazon
created on 2019-07-06

Text 96.5
Appliance 93.8
Washer 93.8
Coin 81.1
Money 81.1
Number 78.4
Symbol 78.4

Clarifai
created on 2019-07-06

no person 92.9
symbol 89.6
illustration 89
art 87.5
texture 86.1
sign 86
one 84.7
number 81
text 79
round 77.9
alphabet 73.2
round out 72.5
character 72
metallic 70.4
business 69.3
cutout 68
old 67.4
desktop 66.7
reflection 66.3
wear 63.6

Imagga
created on 2019-07-06

die 70.4
cutter 56.2
cutting implement 42.4
tool 32.3
screw 26.4
object 21.3
money 20.4
puck 19.4
disk 19.1
fastener 18.8
coin 17.2
currency 17.1
circle 17
coins 16.4
finance 16.1
restraint 15.4
old 15.3
cash 14.6
device 14.6
bank 14.3
close 14.3
historical 14.1
vintage 14.1
retro 13.9
banking 13.8
metal 13.7
collection 13.5
collect 12.8
black 12.6
pay 12.5
barbell 12.4
weight 11.7
food 11.5
round 11.2
rust 10.6
health 9.7
symbol 9.4
economy 9.3
equipment 9.1
healthy 8.8
closeup 8.8
ancient 8.7
rusty 8.6
sign 8.3
shiny 7.9
stone 7.8
steel 7.2
instrument 7.2
sweet 7.1
dessert 7.1

Google
created on 2019-07-06

Font 80.4
Number 80
Metal 75.4
Circle 70.4
Currency 65.2
Symbol 60.9
Coin 53.1
Button 50.2

Microsoft
created on 2019-07-06

coin 82.8
circle 70.6
silver 51.1
screw 45.8

Color Analysis

Feature analysis

Amazon

No features identified

Clarifai

Coin

Clarifai

Coin 99.2%

Clarifai

Coin 62%

Categories

Imagga
created on 2019-07-06

paintings art 100%

Captions

Microsoft
created by unknown on 2019-07-06

a close up of a persons face 32.4%

Salesforce

Created by general-english-image-caption-blip on 2025-05-21

a photograph of a round iron tsubau tsubau tsubau tsubau ts

Created by general-english-image-caption-blip-2 on 2025-07-03

a tsuba with a hole in the center

OpenAI GPT

Created by gpt-4o-2024-11-20 on 2025-06-08

This image depicts a Japanese tsuba, the handguard of a sword, typically designed to protect the wielder's hand during combat and to balance the blade. The tsuba shown here is round and slightly oval in shape with a rustic metal finish.

There is a central, narrow cutout shaped like an elongated triangle, traditionally meant to fit the sword's tang. Surrounding this cutout are intricate engravings and designs. On the left side near the inner edge, there appears to be a small oval decoration. On the upper right side, a bird-like engraving is visible, indicating a nature-inspired motif. The lower right portion has engravings resembling delicate, curved lines, possibly representing plant or floral imagery. Stylized Japanese characters are also engraved on the surface near the center. The craftsmanship demonstrates both functional and artistic detail, typical of traditional Japanese sword fittings.

Created by gpt-4o-2024-08-06 on 2025-06-08

The image shows a Japanese tsuba, which is the handguard of a sword, typically a katana. It has an approximately oval or slightly rounded-square shape with a hole in the center to accommodate the sword blade. The tsuba appears to be made of a dark metal with a somewhat aged or oxidized surface. There are intricate engravings and decorations on its surface, including Japanese characters or kanji near the center and other small decorative elements, such as a flying bird and an engraved branch or plant motif. There is also a small oval or circular shape on the left side of the tsuba, which might be an inlay or a decorative element. The overall appearance suggests it is an antique piece, likely crafted with traditional Japanese artistry.

Anthropic Claude

Created by anthropic.claude-3-haiku-20240307-v1:0 on 2025-06-12

The image shows an antique Japanese sword guard, also known as a tsuba. The tsuba is made of metal, likely iron, and has an intricate design engraved on its surface. The design includes various Japanese characters and symbols, suggesting it has cultural or historical significance. The tsuba appears to be weathered and aged, indicating it is an old and well-preserved artifact.

Created by us.anthropic.claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022-v2:0 on 2025-06-12

This appears to be a Japanese sword tsuba (hand guard) made of dark metal, likely iron. It has an oval shape with a central opening for the sword blade and appears to be decorated with some inscribed characters or designs, though they're not entirely clear in this image. The metal shows signs of age with a dark patina and some surface texture. The tsuba was an important functional and decorative component of traditional Japanese swords, protecting the hand during use while also serving as a piece of artistic metalwork.

Meta Llama

Created by us.meta.llama3-2-11b-instruct-v1:0 on 2025-05-29

The image presents a traditional Japanese tsuba, a type of sword guard, crafted from metal and featuring an intricate design.

  • The tsuba is circular in shape, with a central hole for the sword's blade.
    • The metal has a dark patina, indicating age and wear.
    • The surface is adorned with various designs, including:
      • A small, oval-shaped object resembling a seal or stamp.
      • Japanese characters, likely inscriptions or signatures.
      • A stylized depiction of a tree branch, possibly symbolizing nature or longevity.
      • A curved line resembling a wave or a river, possibly representing movement or flow.
  • The background of the image is white, suggesting that it may be a product photo or a display for an online marketplace.

In summary, the image showcases a beautifully crafted Japanese tsuba with a rich history and cultural significance, set against a clean and neutral background.

Created by us.meta.llama3-2-90b-instruct-v1:0 on 2025-05-29

The image depicts a tsuba, a Japanese sword guard, with a circular shape and a central hole. The tsuba is made of metal, likely iron or steel, and features a dark patina, indicating age and wear. The surface of the tsuba is adorned with various designs and inscriptions, including:

  • A small, oval-shaped design on the left side, possibly a family crest or symbol.
  • A series of Chinese characters or Japanese kanji along the top edge, which may represent the name of the swordsmith, the owner, or a poetic phrase.
  • A stylized depiction of a tree or branch on the right side, which could symbolize strength, longevity, or spiritual growth.
  • A small, curved line or hook at the bottom center, which might be a decorative element or a functional feature for attaching the tsuba to the sword.

The background of the image is a plain white surface, suggesting that the tsuba is being displayed or photographed for documentation or appraisal purposes. Overall, the image provides a detailed view of the tsuba's design and craftsmanship, highlighting its historical and cultural significance as a piece of Japanese art and weaponry.

Amazon Nova

Created by amazon.nova-lite-v1:0 on 2025-05-28

The image shows a round, metallic object with a hole in the middle, which appears to be a traditional Japanese Tsuba, a sword guard. The Tsuba has a circular shape with a hole in the center, and it is made of metal, possibly iron or steel. The surface of the Tsuba has some scratches and wear marks, indicating that it has been used for a long time. There are some Japanese characters engraved on the Tsuba, which are likely to be the name of the swordsmith or the owner of the sword. The Tsuba has a dark, rusty appearance, suggesting that it has been exposed to the elements for a long time.

Created by amazon.nova-pro-v1:0 on 2025-05-28

The image shows a round, metallic object with a hole in the middle. The object is probably made of metal, and the surface has some rust. The object has some Chinese characters written on it, which are probably the name of the object. The object is placed on a white surface, which is probably a table. The object is probably a coin.

Google Gemini

Created by gemini-2.0-flash-lite on 2025-05-15

Here's a description of the image:

The image showcases a Japanese tsuba (sword guard), a circular metal plate used on samurai swords. It has a dark, weathered appearance, suggesting age and use. Here are some key features:

  • Shape and Material: The tsuba is round with a central opening for the sword's tang (nakago-ana) and smaller holes on its side. The material appears to be iron or a similar dark metal.
  • Design: The surface has a textured, aged look. There are subtle decorative elements, including what seems to be a stylized bird or foliage and Japanese calligraphy on the right side. There's also a small, lighter-colored, oval-shaped piece towards the left.
  • Condition: The tsuba shows signs of wear and age, with a somewhat uneven and aged texture.

Overall, it appears to be an antique Japanese sword guard, possibly from a historical period.

Created by gemini-2.0-flash on 2025-05-15

Here is a description of the image:

The image shows a circular, metallic object, likely a tsuba (sword guard) from a Japanese sword, centered against a plain, white background. The tsuba is predominantly dark, with a weathered or aged appearance and an uneven surface texture.

At the center of the tsuba is an elongated, keyhole-shaped opening with a visible copper or bronze lining. To the left of this opening is a small, irregular shape filled with a light, silvery-grey material. On the right side of the central opening, vertically oriented, are several Japanese characters.

Along the edge, towards the upper-right, there is a very small design of a bird on a branch, and along the bottom-right edge, a subtle design reminiscent of waves or stylized clouds. Scattered across the surface of the tsuba are tiny specks of gold-colored material.

Mistral Pixtral

Created by us.mistral.pixtral-large-2502-v1:0 on 2025-06-04

The image shows a traditional Japanese tsuba, which is a handguard used on Japanese swords, such as katanas or wakizashis. The tsuba is typically round or squarish with a circular opening in the center, through which the blade passes. This particular tsuba appears to be made of metal, likely iron or a similar alloy, with a dark, somewhat worn surface.

Key features include:

  1. Central Opening (Nakago-ana): The central hole where the blade would pass through. It is elongated and has a copper or brass inlay around it.

  2. Inscription: There are Japanese characters (kanji) engraved on the surface, likely indicating the name of the craftsman, the owner, or a dedication.

  3. Decorative Elements: There are small, intricate designs on the surface, possibly depicting natural elements like plants or flowers.

  4. Seppa-dai: The small circular indentations on either side of the central opening, which are used to hold the seppa (spacers) in place.

  5. Patina: The tsuba has a patina, indicating age and use, which adds to its antique appearance.

Tsubas are not only functional but also serve as decorative elements, often showcasing intricate designs and craftsmanship. This tsuba exemplifies traditional Japanese artistry and metalwork.

Qwen

Created by Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct on 2025-07-01

The image shows a circular object that appears to be a Japanese sword guard, also known as a tsuba. It is made of metal and has a hole in the center for attaching it to a sword hilt. The surface is dark, possibly due to age or wear, and has some discoloration and patina, indicating it might be an antique or well-used item. There are some inscriptions or markings on the surface, which may be text or symbols, and there are also decorative elements engraved on the guard, suggesting it might have been made with artistic intent. The design includes what looks like floral or abstract patterns, adding to its aesthetic appeal.

Created by Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct on 2025-07-01

This image shows a traditional Japanese tsuba, which is a hand guard or guard plate for the katana, wakizashi, and tanto. The tsuba is circular and appears to be made of metal, likely iron or steel, with a dark patina indicating age and use.

The central feature of the tsuba is a large, irregularly shaped opening, which is the tsuka-ana (handle hole) where the sword's handle (tsuka) passes through. Surrounding this opening are various decorative elements:

  1. Vertical Characters: On the left side of the tsuka-ana, there are vertical Japanese characters, which might be a signature or inscription indicating the maker or the date of creation.

  2. Tree Branch Design: On the right side of the tsuka-ana, there is a design that resembles a tree branch with leaves or blossoms.

  3. Bamboo or Plant Design: Below the tree branch, there is another design that resembles a bamboo stem or some other plant.

  4. Circular Mark: To the left of the tsuka-ana, there is a circular, lighter-colored mark that could be a decorative element or a form of wear.

The overall design is simple yet elegant, with a focus on natural elements like trees and plants. The tsuba's surface shows signs of wear and rust, indicating its age and historical significance. The background is plain white, which helps to highlight the details of the tsuba.