Heianjō tsuba with design of bamboo and sparrows. Edo period, 17th century.

Iron tsuba decorated with sparrows and bamboo inlaid and chiseled in yellow brass, with snow lying on bamboo leaves inlaid in silver-ish shibuichi. Copper sekigane. The kogai-hitsu-ana probably cut out at a later date.

Heianjō school.

Unsigned.

Height: 86.0 mm, Width: 85.4 mm, Thickness at seppa-dai: 2.9 mm.

Momoyama or early Edo period, first half of the 17th century.

Merrily Baird, Symbols..., page 118: "The association of the sparrow (suzume) with both bamboo and rice heads is an old one found in Japanese poetry, paining, and design."