Antique Japanese Samurai Iron Tsuba Sword Hilt Openwork Lotis Leaves gold inlay Signed

This is an antique Japanese Edo period (c.1596 - 1868) tsuba (handguard) for a Wakazashi. This tsuba is made with typical forged steel and is in the shape of a marugata and has lotus leaves engraved around openwork. Graved with the sword smiths mei near the nakakgo hitsu Ana. This tsuba shows some wear from use. The wear has smoothed down the whole tsuba and removed most of the gold on top. There are no tagane ato around the nakago nor sekigane it was most likely affixed to a short sword. 

A beautiful example of samurai craftsmanship. It measures about 2.5" (7.5 cm) in diameter.  1/4" (.4cm) thick. Having been lovingly and carefully displayed by 3 generations of collectors, it remains in fine condition.