Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with a Kuanyu Preparing to Throw a Spear
(Japanese Military Armor)
The mounted figure along the right edge of this tsuba is 2nd century Chinese general Kanyu (Ch. Guan Yu [Kuan Yu). Stories of his activities during the Three Kingdoms period are told in the 14th century novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Kuanyu is about to plunge his spear into the water. Waves fill the lower section of both sides of the tsuba. On the reverse, the spears and battle flag of a army appear above the waves.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan, Tokyo (Edo)
(Place of Origin)
Japan, Shinano (Place of Origin)
Measurements
2 13/16 x 2 5/8 x 1/8 in. (7.2 x 6.7 x 0.35 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
51.208