Tsuba motif puzzle

[Marius]

Gents,

 

any idea what is depicted here?

 

I shall be grateful for your thoughts…

 

[Spartancrest]

A total guess but it could be Mistletoe - probably alluding to a chapter in "The Tale of Genji"

Mistletoe from Lady Murasaki's "The Tale of Genji". Original woodblock print by Masao Ebihara circa 1950. Artist's seal in lower left of image. Scene shows Kaoru no Kimi courting Naka Gimi.

 

   The plant growing from a tree branch.

 

  ヤドリギ | yadorigi | mistletoe 

[Marius]

That sounds very convincing, thank you! The hole would represent a mistletoe berry in such a case…

[GRC]

The bottom half of the design looks like a cloud with the tip of a crescent moon poking out towards the right...

So, mistletoe on a moonlit night? Could be a reference to a specific poem or specific scene in a story or play (I have no idea which one though).