NINE IRON TSUBA (SWORD GUARDS) Edo period (1615-1868), 17th to 19th century (9)NINE IRON TSUBA (SWORD GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 17th to 19th centuryAll oval or circular, pierced and chiselled; the first with chrysanthemums and grasses, signed Choshu no ju Tomosada; the second with floating cherry blossoms, signed Choshu Hagi no ju Naokatsu saku; the third with a mass of shellfish, signed Echizen no ju Kinai; the fourth with three aubergines, signed Masayoshi; the fifth Sunagawa style, with leaves and cones from different trees, sealed Masatatsu; the sixth with folding fans and leaves and flowers of yugao ('evening face', Lagenaria leucantha), in allusion to the Genji chapter so titled, signed Bushu no ju Masatoshi; the seventh with broken shippo-tsunagi patterns; the eighth with descending geese, reeds, water, and moon, signed Bushu no ju Masakata; the last with sailing boats on one side and a smaller boat and mountain on the other, signed Choshu Hagi no ju Tomohisa saku. Each approx. 7.5cm (2 15/16in) high. (9).None