As part of our Japanese works of art collection we are delighted to offer this fascinating late Edo period 1615-1868/ early Meiji period 1868-1912 mixed metal Tsuba ( Sword hand guard) artist signed by Yoshihisa Biju, the main body of the Tsuba is formed from solid shibuichi , the artist has very cleverly wrapped a mixed metal cockerel around the top corner of the Tsuba , the cockerel startled by a silver snake rising from below, the cockerel feathers falling to each side of the piece, the reverse is finely signed and sealed by an artist we believe to be Ishiguro Yoshihisa, a late Edo period metalworker working in Tokyo. Regardless of the attribution this is an exceptional quality piece of mixed metal work that would sit front and centre of any serious sword fitting or Japanese metalwork collection.Literature : Yoshihisa ( Biju) is one of six metal artists by the same name listed on page 529 in the Toso Kinko Jiten by Wakayama Takeshi .Provenance : Russian Private Colle...