A large iron tsuba
Later Goto School, 19th century
Of oval form with slightly raised rim, carved and inlaid with farm workers planting rice, a spreading pine tree to one side and mountains in the distance, the reverse with a peasant worker carrying a hoe as he walks past a waterfall, details in gold, silver and shakudo, signed Sakuragawa no atari ni oite Hokkyo Ichijo (Hokkyo Ichijo, by the Sakura River) with kao. 8.5cm (3 3/8in).
FOOTNOTES
鍔　田植　銘「於桜川之邊法橋一乗　（花押）」　19世紀

Ichijo lived in both Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo) at different times in his life but the signature probably refers to the Sakura River which flows from the western side of Mount Tsukuba near Edo.