Measuring 3 1/4 inches wide, 3 5/8 inches long and roughly a quarter inch thick at the raised rim, the tsuba is primarily of shibuichi (copper/silver alloy) construction with raised and flush copper inlays. The face shows a scene of a carp leaping out of the water to catch an insect, with the fish and bug in raised copper and the water engraved into the tsuba with copper dot accents. The reverse shows a additional engraved water with raised copper water lilies, as well as an engraved and gold inlaid signature; a consignor supplied translation attributes the markings to the workshop of noted 19th century master artist Kano Natsuo, with a date of 1863. Included with the tsuba is a custom hardwood case with removable pillow pad and extensive markings inside the lid (consignor-attributed as an attestation from Sato Kanzan, author of the book "The Japanese Sword: A Comprehensive Guide"), a small cloth tsuba pouch in salmon pink with black and silver accents, and a photocopy from an unidentified German/Japanese text which attributes the piece to the collection of the Museum of Art and Industry in Hamburg.

Excellent, with a minimum of handling marks. Overall detail level in both engraving and inlay is superb. The case is fine with some split seams and one of the short end pieces absent from the lid. The finest Tsuba we have ever offered at auction!