Sadanao was a late-Edo era artisan who lived in the Kanda region of Edo. The Bushū school often depicted plants and flowers in this swirling, powerful, yet elegant sukashi style

Iron, round, image of pine trees in sukashi. A robust and rustic tsuba, possibly from a student of the Bushū school, showing pine trees, branches, and trunks, enclosed within a circular rim

Possibly from the Kyō-shōami school who uses this theme in this style, often incorporating an umbrella or hat into the design. This tsuba is a lovely antique from the Edo era

This tsuba is particularly charming due to the use of positive and negative sukashi, and because of its pristine condition. Chōshū or Bushū school

Tsuba, signed 越前住 記内作 (Echizen-jū Kinai saku). Iron, kawarigata tsuba in the image of a mushroom, showing the underside of the mushroom canopy

Iron, marugata, with image of wild goose flying over water with the moon reflected in the waves. Other abstract designs are as yet unidentified, and represent something of a mystery

The leaves could be iris leaves, which are symbolic of the samurai as their long, slender leaves are said to resemble swords, and the word for iris (shōbu) is a homonym for challenge or contest

Iron, kawarigata sukashi tsuba in the shape of a peach, with the surface of the leaves carved in kebori. Possibly (Ko-)Shōami school. A unique and charming tsuba

Iron, tatemaru-gata, image of horse-riding equipment: saddle, stirrups, riding crop on the recto, and bridle on the verso

Mito, Oyama style tsuba. In great condition and very nice patina

A beautiful example of an iron tsuba from the Saotome school with a very good patina. This tsuba is in excellent conditions and all lines of the petal remain intact

Namitoshi was a late Edo era metalworker, working in the Bushū style

his tsuba bears similarity to one found in the catalogue (see photo) signed Sadayuki (貞之) of Kaga province, both in shape and carving style. This tsuba may be an unsigned work of Sadayuki, or one of his contemporaries in Kaga

Yoshitaka (of the Komai family) was a late-Edo era metalsmith, living and working in the Ueno area of Tōkyō

A very interesting tsuba that is nice, well-balanced, and in good condition. Not many in this style are found for sale

Iron, maru-gata, hollyhocks in brass inlay. Heianjō style tsuba from muromachi or mid-to-early Edo era

Iron, mokkō-gata with heart-shaped (inome) sukashi at the indentations, brass inlay arabesques and flowers

The signature on this tsuba is Masayoshi of Chōshū Province, in the area of present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture

Two spiny lobsters arranged asymmetrically in sukashi inside of a circular rim with hitsu for kōgai and kozuka

Iron, tatemaru-gata, raised rim and hammer marks, with image of the poet Li Bai admiring a waterfall under pine trees

Iron, mokkō-gata shape, with sukashi image of anchor carved into a background of waves with points of gold inlay representing foam on the waves

Iron, maru-gata, with openwork of stylized hanabishi, possibly representing a family crest, and arabesques of gold inlay on the rim

Iron, square with rounded corders, image of bracken ferns, eggplant and bamboo in moonlight, with inlays of gold, bronze, and shakudō

Iron, kawarigata (oddly-shaped) tsuba of unknown design

Iron tsuba, maru-gata, with images of flowers, and plants, possibly indicating family crests, and arabesques in openwork

Iron, maru-gata, Tōshō tsuba, with image of wagon wheel in openwork

Iron tsuba, roundshaped with openwork representing a bird flying in front of a full moon partially obscured by mist

Bushu Sukashi Bird Tsuba. Ex. Backhoff collection

Ozawa Kazuyuki w/kao. Ex. the Duncan Beresford collection 5440. Theme is rope, waves and anchor.

Very nice Tsuba signed Echizen ju Kinai saku. Edo period

A rare Aoi shape Heianjo Tsuba and good quality when considering its age. Early Edo

Seiryūken Eiju (成竜軒栄寿) was the art name of Tetsugendo Toryuken, also known as Naofusa (尚房)

A very beautiful Owari Sukashi Tsuba. Tsuba has large Kuzuka-hitsu-ana and square design Kogai-hitsu-ana. Well-made and has a lovely smotth patina