This iron tsuba (sword guard) features an elegant openwork (sukashi) design of plum blossoms, myōga sprouts, and clover. The plum blossom (ume), one of the earliest flowers of spring, symbolizes renewal and endurance, while myōga, a type of ginger, was linked to protection and good fortune. Clover adds a motif of natural abundance. Crafted in the 16th century, this tsuba reflects the Momoyama-period taste for symbolic and auspicious designs, transforming a functional sword fitting into an expression of refinement and status