Rare excellent condition Higo tsuba with Hosokawa family kamon. It is very rare to find such a nice example of higo gold and silver inlay in such intact condition. Usually because the tsuba are iron, the rust will cause the inlay to become disconnected with the surface of the tsuba and is often lost. This tsuba has all of its inlay, and looks as gorgeous as the day it was made. The presence of the Hosokawa mon with the sakura flower mon is most likely a sign that this tsuba was used by a direct retainer of the Hosokawa family. Also this type of tsuba was very expensive, therefore could not have been purchased by a bushi of lower status.. iron plate, well made and hammered, excellent fine gold and silver inlay done in the famous Higo fashion. Gold for the main Hosokawa mon, silver for the the lower mon. even better than the pictures in hand!