A daishō pair of tsuba, large and small, both signed 弘寿 (Hirotoshi) with his kaō (花押). Hirotoshi, art name Ichijōsai, worked in Mito, Hitachi province, in the late Edo period; according to the original seller he trained with the Tamagawa family and is known for tsuba and fuchi-kashira of polished shibuichi carved with figures and landscapes. Both pieces are tate-maru in shape, of shibuichi with a polished ground (migaki-ji) and a square, slightly rounded rim. The theme is shishi and peonies: on the front, a shishi descends over rocks above a clump of peonies; on the back, another shishi among swirling clouds accompanies the signature. The carving, in katakiribori with kebori details, is confident and painterly. The large guard has both hitsu-ana plugged with shakudō; the small one keeps a single open hitsu-ana. Dimensions according to the original seller: 7.5 × 7.1 cm for the large and 7.1 × 6.8 cm for the small, with a rim thickness of 0.4 cm. The photographs show good condition, with fine scratches and small marks on the surface. The pair is illustrated as number 121 in the monograph «Tetsu no ishō: Mito-tō to tōsōgu no meihin», whose cover and plate are reproduced. The original seller declares an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu certificate, which does not appear in the photographs. It comes in a two-compartment kiri box.