A small shibuichi Hosono School tsuba
By Hosono Masamori, 18th/19th century
Of rounded rectangular form, delicately engraved in kebori with a nobleman on horseback, resting by a stream for his horse to drink, slight details inlaid in gold and silver honzogan, signed Hosono Sozaemon Masamori with kao.
6.4cm (2½in).
Footnotes
鍔　貴人に馬　銘「細野惣左衛門　政守（花押）」　18/19世紀

The design alludes to a famous poem by Fujiwara no Shunzei (1114–1204), Shinkokinshu anthology, Book 2, no.149:

Koma tomete / nao mizu kawan ya / yamabuki no / hana no tsuru sou / Ide no Tamagawa

When I halt my horse / to water him once again / dew drops fall from the / petals of the mountain rose / at Ide’s Jewel River

The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art: Part IV, lot 43.