Saotome and Kyo Sukashi Two iron tsuba Momoyama (1573-1615) or Edo (1615-1868) period, 16th/17th century The first a Saotome tsuba pierced with 64 finely cut radiating openings, the iron of good color; the second a circular Kyo-sukashi tsuba with a central vertical band pierced with two undulating lines perhaps representing the character ichi (one), to one side a kiri-mon (paulownia crest) and to the other side a half kiku-mon (chrysanthemum crest) in positive openwork, each connected to its respective hitsuana The first tsuba 3 5/8in (9.3cm) high