An iron tsuba
By Toshiharu, Tanaka school, 19th century
Of rounded rectangular form with raised rim, carved in relief and inlaid with three chidori flying over breaking waves, the birds and spray drops of gold takazogan; signed Rakusei no ju, Toshiharu with inlaid gold kao. 7.9cm (3 1/8in).
FOOTNOTES
鍔　波に千鳥　銘「洛西住　寿治（花押）」　19世紀

The maker is Nakajima Toshiharu, a student of Tanaka Kiyotoshi who lived in Kyoto during the midddle part of the 19th century. Rakusei is an old name for the western part of Kyoto. (See Robert Haynes, The Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists, Ellwangen, Germany, 2001, no.H10323).