A Japanese russet iron sukashi tsuba, Edo period, of shaped oval form with line-border edge detailing and plain field, with two piercings intended for a cord himo to pass through, creating a loop for the wrist of a swordsman, 7.7cm x 8.3cm, mounted within a fitted wood display box. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: detailed by Roald and Patricia Knutsen as one of a pair, made for or by a master swordsman. Roald notes that this one was from Kobe and the other was purchased in the UK. This example from Kobe was mounted on Roald Knutsen’s personal katana and was gifted to him from Ozaki Nobushige’s collection in 1976.