This has been in my collection for 11 years and I still don't know what to make of it.    Smallish round iron tsuba.  The signature, Yamakichibei is clearly gimei (false).  The plate of the tsuba is made of thin, hard iron with granular and linear tekkotsu.  Amidayusuri decoration is applied to the plate and underlies the lacquer.   The mimi is subtle and well-executed - it shows granular tekkotsu.  The maki-e urushi lacquer application is skillfully accomplished.  The lacquer has visual depth and a reddish patina of age - this is not recent lacquer. 

Early Edo?  6.7 x 6.7 x 0.2 seppadai, x 0.35cm mimi.

$380