Edo period (1615-1868), mid-19th century
The well-forged iron plate elaborately pierced with a pair of confronted cranes, their heads emerging from the top of the seppadai, the eyes inlaid in silver, copper, and copper alloy, two hitsu (openings for kozuka and kogai), the nakakago-ana (central opening for the blade) with copper sekigane (shims) at top and bottom, with a fitted wood storage box. 8.3cm x 8.2cm (3¼in x 3¼in). (2).
Footnotes

Tsuba with this design are associated with a branch—based in Tosa Province on the island of Shikoku—of the nationwide Myochin network of armour and ironwork specialists.