New Tsuba? Help Appreciated

[mseagle]

I'm new to the hobby and looking for a little help on a Tsuba that I just picked up in trade.  It is dirty but came directly from a veteran's lot who fought in the PTO.  The tongue of the demon looking character is copper.  The rope by its head is gold.  How old (Edo?) do you think the guard is and can you tell me who made it?  Also, looking for any info on the demon looking character.  

 

Many thanks in advance for any help you guys can lend!

 

Mark

[Tanto54]

Dear Mark,

 

This is a Hannya Mask from the Noh Theater representing a female demon.  Look up Hannya on the internet and you will find lots of information and several of the stories (the best, in my opinion, is about a woman who becomes very jealous and transforms into a demon incinerating the guy who made her jealous who is hiding under a big metal bell - this is why you often see a serpent with this face coiled around a bell in Japanese sword fittings).

[mseagle]

Thank you very much for the information.  Do you have an approximate age on the guard or a possible maker?

[Heringsdorf]

Probably late 18th, or early 19th century.

[Ford Hallam]

As George wrote the mask is indeed that known as Hannya, the female demon. The story alluded to by the maple leaves is, I believe,  that of Momijigari (Autumn Foliage Viewing), a brief description of the plot here on wikipedia.

[mseagle]

Thanks a lot for the information guys!  Very much appreciated!