Iron Kyo Shoami School Tsuba with NBTHK Hozon Tosogu - Herons and Stream Some is missing

Some is missing

This means that large parts of the material was removed with chisels or hammered away

Takenouchi No Sukune lived in 1st century and was said to be an advisor to 5 Emperors of Japan

First one seems to be "天" (Heaven) and second one "王" (king)

Iron Kyo Shoami School Tsuba with NBTHK Hozon Tosogu - Herons and Stream Some is missingIron Kyo Shoami tsuba with NBTHK Hozon Tosogu. Decorated with two herons in the stream. Eyes inlaid with soft metal, without cleaning them it is hard to say if it is brass or gold. Beak of the upper heron was attached to mimi, now there is a small crack there. Made in Edo Period. Size: 84 mm x 80 mm x 5 mm