C287.  Iron sukashi tsuba attributed by the consigning owner to the Saotome group working in Momoyama or early Edo.  8.5 x 8.7 x .4 cm at the raised uchikaeshi mimi (.25 cm at the seppa dai).  The nakago hitsu-ana is 1.2 x 2.8 cm.  The Saotome began work in armor and branched out into kodogu, mainly tsuba.  The sukashi has been described as incense or smoke.  The plate is heavily worked in tsuchimei (hammer) and is folded, as can be seen in my last picture.  Excellent condition and surface.  $325.