Tsuka with Dragon, Clouds, and Waves

Description This tsuka is made as one piece, without separate fuchi, kashira and menuki. A fierce dragon is wrapped around a background of clouds and waves. Dragons are associated with water, so they are often depicted with clouds or waves. The inscription seems to be from a 12th-century text written in Chinese, followed by the artist's name. This is part of a mounted set.

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions [Inscription] 大江匡圀属余制否神剣為試剛刀; [Transliteration] Ôe Masakuni, zoku yo sei hi, kami katana tame shi, goto; [Signature] 一柳友壽; [Translation] Ichiryû Tomotoshi

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters