A large iron tsuba
By Iwama Masayoshi and Bushu Masatsune, 19th century
Of circular form, inlaid in silver takazogan with a sea-eagle soaring over carved breaking waves in which an octopus struggles, continued on the reverse, signed Shohosai Masayoshi with kao and Bushu ju Masatsune. 8.5cm (3 3/8in).
FOOTNOTES
鍔　荒波に海鷲　銘「巣蜂齋政盧」「武州住正恒」　19世紀

A rare collaboration by two celebrated makers. Iwama Masayoshi (1764-1837) worked in Edo and was a student of Hamano Naoyuki, Nobuyuki and Toshiyuki.
Masatsune was a member of the Ito family and was probably the second generation of the name (see Haynes, Index, no.H04737).