Hand guard
1600 - 1900
Medium
iron (metal)
Dimensions
0.5; 9.7; 9; 7
About this artwork
Bruikleen van de Koninklijke Vereniging van Vrienden der Aziatische Kunst (legaat Westendorp-Osieck, 1968)
Art Historical Context
This delicate iron hand guard, crafted anonymously between 1600 and 1900, exemplifies the masterful metalworking traditions of Asian artisans. Measuring just 9.7 cm in diameter, 7 cm wide, 9 cm high, and a slender 0.5 cm thick, its compact form was designed to protect the wielder's hand on a sword hilt, blending functionality with refined craftsmanship. Forged from iron, the medium allowed for durability in combat while enabling intricate shaping and potential surface treatments, though its precise decorative details remain understated in this example. Spanning over two centuries—from the lat...
About the Artist
anonymous
In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...