A large shakudo tsuba
By Somin, Yokoya School, late 18th century
Of circular form, engraved in fine katakiri-bori and kebori with two shishi (mythological lions), the reverse similarly engraved with two Oharame (women from Ohara near Kyoto), one carrying a bundle of brushwood on her head while the other stoops to pick up a similar load, the kozuka-hitsu plugged with gilt metal, signed Somin with kao; with storage box. 8cm (3 1/8in). (2).
Footnotes

鍔　獅子・大原女　銘「宗珉（花押）」　18世紀後期

The kao is that of Yokoya Somin I (1670-1733) who was succeeded by two further generations, the last of them born in 1795. See Robert E. Haynes, The Index of Japanese Swords Fittings and Associated Artists, Ellwangen, Germany, Nihon Art Publishers, 2001, nos.H08917-9.

The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art: Part VI, lot 11.