SIX TSUBA (SWORD GUARDS) Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century (6)SIX TSUBA (SWORD GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryAll of brass or sentoku (brass alloy) except the third and inlaid with gold, silver, shakudo, shibuichi or brass; the first aorigata, with a family of monkeys, the father getting his hand nipped by a crab, signed Ichiryu Toshimitsu (Haynes 10450); the second rectangular with sumikiri corners, chiselled with Yoritomo and his comrades hiding in a tree and two doves flying away, the reverse with mountains, pines, and military banners, signed Katsuyasu eru; the third irregular rectangular with sumikiri corners, with a badger sitting by a tea kettle, the reverse with its rustic dwelling by moonlight, signed Higashidaishita Shinobigaoka no hotori ni oite kore o saku Toryo, with a seal; the fourth pierced and chiselled in relief with a Chinese scholar reading by the light of the moon, with signature Hamano Noriyuki; the fifth rounded rectangular with three masks: Okame, oni, and tengu, with signature Iwamoto Konkan; the last octagonal, with Shoki the Demon-Queller confronted by a flying demon on one side, the other side with clouds and moon, signed Toshimasa. The smallest: 7cm (2¾in) high; the largest: 9.6cm (3¾in) high. (6).None