An unusual inlaid silver tsuba
By Sanjo Akitada (born 1899), Showa era (1926-1989), dated 1968
The thick plate of oval form with unpolished ground, decorated with the sword maker Kokaji Munechika forging the sword Kogitsunemaru (‘Little Fox’), assisted by the fox spirit in the form of a bearded deity with a fox headress, in silver and shakudo takazogan with details of gold and copper, the reverse with an inlaid fox running amid clouds beneath a long inscription, signed and dated Toshi nanajussai Showa yonjusannen sangatsu kore o horu Echigo no kuni Sanjo Akitada Minamoto Yukifusa (Carved by Sanjo Akitada Minamoto Yukifusa of Echigo Province in the third month of the 43rd year of Showa [1968]); with a tomobako inscribed on the cover exterior Kokaji Munechika and on the interior Showa yonjusannen sangatsu hi Echigo no kuni Sanjo Akitada Minamoto Yukifusa kore o horu Yamanaka-shi tame seikon no tame no issaku (Carved by Sanjo Akitada Minamoto Yukifusa of Echigo Province in the third month of the 43rd year of Showa [1968] for the soul of Mr Yamanaka) with seal Akitada. 9.2cm (3 5/8in). (2).
Footnotes

Sanjo Akitada (birth name Abe Shoichi) was born in 1899, son of an iron worker who made cannon rather than swords. He was active as a swordsmith during the 1920s and 1930s but later moved to Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture (formerly Echigo Province as referred to in the signature), took the additional name of Yukifusa (‘Snow Hut’, perhaps in reference to the climate of his new home) and specialized in carving blades.