Tsuba with Two Figures with a Chinese Lion-Dog
(Japanese Military Armor)
The openwork design on this tsuba features two figures standing at the right. The one in the rear carries a quiver of arrows and a bow. He is blowing a long horn. The figure in front holds a Chinese style lion-dog ("shishi") on a leash. This animal did not exist, but is derived from Chinese and Japanese interpretations of stories and paintings of lions in India.
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, Kyoto (Place of Origin)
Measurements
2 3/4 x 2 11/16 x 3/16 in. (7 x 6.88 x 0.5 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.
51.349