Five tsuba (sword guards) Edo period (1615-1868), 18th to 19th century The first of shibuichi, lobed mokkogata outline, with flush gold inlay of stylised dragons, signed Kashu no ju Katsukuni (Katsukuni of Kaga Province); the second iron, three-lobed, pierced and chiselled with two shogi pieces inlaid in silver, signed Echizen no ju Umemura saku (Made by Umemura of Echizen [Province]); the third of shakudo, lobed mokkogata outline, chiselled with a continuous cloud design and inlaid in gold with two pairs of drums belonging to Raijin the Storm God; the fourth of shakudo, circular, chiselled and inlaid with Kosekiko crossing a bridge with his horse, a dragon in the water beneath, and Choryo returning Kosekiko's shoe, signed Kuwamura Gen'emon Katsuhisa with a kao; the last shibuichi, six-sided with a rim imitating bamboo, inlaid with chrysanthemums in gold, silver, and copper. The smallest: 6.5cm (2 9/16in); the largest: 8.5cm (3 5/16in). (5).