Description--- This tsuba is thought to have been made during the Edo period (especially around the mid to late period). I ts features include patterns carved in relief on the forged iron surface and finely applied gold inlays (such as inlay, flat inlay, and cloth-textured inlay). These styles are often seen in Edo period metalworking techniques (like the Shoami school and local town metalworkers connected to it), which developed in a peaceful era when sword fittings were not only practical as weapons but also demanded to reflect a samurai's status and serve as decorative art. This is an attractive example of an Edo-period Japanese sword fitting, suitable for collectors of Japanese swords, tsuba, and traditional Japanese metalwork. Dimensions--- Tsuba: approx. 7.0 cm (W) × 7.3 cm (H) Thickness: approx. 0.6 cm Weight of tsuba: approx. 149 g Period: Edo period, believed to be mid-Edo (18th century) Material: Iron Origin: Japan Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.