An iron tsuba by Nobuyoshi
By Iwama Nobuyoshi, Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century
The rounded iron plate tsuba with a slightly raised rim and carved on the surface with a monkey lifting a straw hat to free a sparrow, the reverse with the sparrow’s mate perched on the roof of a farmhouse, all rendered in gold, silver and shakudo takazogan, takabori and shishiaibori, some areas of the design in iron polished to a high gloss, all against the matte ground, signed Shun’o Hogen Nobuyoshi and with a kao
3 7/8in (9.8cm) long

bird monkey square