Kamon applied to Edo period saya

[grapppa]

I recently purchased an edo period (?) sword that has kamon designs on the saya that I have never seen before and has intrigued me enough to research.   The designs are like a “sticker” applied on top of the laquered finish.  The stickers have degraded significantly.  Here is how the kamon are arranged on the saya.

 

One symbol on one side

 

Three symbols on the other

 

 

 

The middle symbol - “Mitsuba Aoi,” or “Triple Hollyhock,” an iconic family crest associated with the Tokugawa clan.  The design on the leaves is very detailed.

 

On the right is a double comma “swirl” / tomoe mon?; signifying the yin/yang philosophy  - opposites as being mutually interdependent?  This has gold remnants but doesnt have the fine details of the other... or it delaminated off? 

 

A variation of Takeda clan?  Takeda Ryo??  The coloring is like pearlescent- mother of pearl; it is brittle;will chip away and as you can see, has 3 L-to-R cracks.

 

 

The lone symbol on the other side is damaged; and the image is unrecognizable – to my eyes.. Is it a stylized tree?  It doesnt appear to have symmetry like the kamon...

 

What does this all mean – why were they applied?   Does it symbolize an interfamily marriage???  Any suggestions much appreciated!

[SteveM]

The squares in the diamond shape is called "maru ni yotsume-hishi", used by numerous families. 

https://myoji-kamon.net/kamonDetail.htm?from=rank&kamonName=丸に四つ目菱

 

The "yin-yang" symbol is also a family crest (hidari-futatsu tomoe).

https://irohakamon.com/kamon/tomoe/hidarifutatsutomoe.html

 

The round, indistinct remains of a seal may be "maru ni mitsuhiki-ryō", also used by many families. 

https://irohakamon.com/kamon/hikiryou/marunimitsuhiki.html 

 

As for the meaning; they could be crests representing a joining of families, or an alliance of some sort. And of course you can't discount the possibility that the item was made in the late 1800s to appeal to foreign tourists. I'm probably inclined to think the latter. Quite flashy, not suitable for the battlefield, not suitable for official business - so probably something made for some non-samurai with a bit of money, or made for the foreign tourist trade. 

 

[grapppa]

Thank you @SteveM.   Frankly, they are distracting and I am very tempted to remove them.  The saya finish is rather spectacular otherwise.