Antique Japanese Samurai Used Iron Tsuba Sword Hilt Openwork Moths and gold inlay

This is an antique Japanese Edo period (c.1596 - 1868) tsuba (handguard) for a Katana or Wakazashi. This tsuba is made with typical forged steel and is in the shape of a mokogata and has alternating front and back facing moths 6 total with openwork in-between. each moth is deeply and meticulously engraved. The outer rim in inlaid with gold in what looks to be the Enshu clan mon. This tsuba shows wear from lots of use. The wear has smoothed down the sides of the tsuba where it rubbed up against the obi belt from daily wear as well as wear where the thumb would pop the seal between the saya and the habaki. Also where the sword gripping hand There are tagane ato around the nakago indicating it was most certainly affixed to a sword. 

A beautiful example of samurai craftsmanship. It measures about 3.25" (8.5 cm) in diameter.  1/4" (.4cm) thick. Having been lovingly and carefully displayed by 3 generations of collectors, it remains in fine condition.