Iron tsuba signed "Chohan Kyokuryukan Inoue Michitaka". Michitaka was a second generation master of Choshu Inoue family. He excelled in making tsuba depicting Shishi. He died in 1819.
This tsuba was most probably chemically cleaned, which resulted in removal of all rust together with patina. It had been repatinated using traditional Japanese methods but patina is very thin. I think that front of this piece looks great, back side is not so good.
Made in late Edo period.
Size: 72 mm x 71 mm x 4 mm
