This tsuba is the work of either the seventh or the eighth Haruta master, both of whom lived in Bizen Province. The seventh master, Yahei Takatsugu, died in 1788. The eighth master, Chubei Takushige, died in 1837. Both were retainers of the Ikeda daimyo of Okayama in Bizen--the Suruga school is in fact the Haruta family, which is why the Ikeda crest predominates in the design. The Haruta lived in Okayama throughout the Edo period. Their work can be distinguished by the copper half-moon shape plugs (kuchibeni) which are placed at the top and bottom of the nakago-ana. These plugs are also used by the Akasaka, Hoan and later Tanaka schools.