Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Kozuka with a Monkey with a Battledore
(Japanese Military Armor)
At the bottom of the kozuka, a monkey stands looking upwards. The monkey holds a battledore, which is used during New Year's celebrations to play a traditional game. A gourd is strapped to the monkey's back. The reverse is decorated with a gold pattern that resembles a special paper used for poems called "tanzaku." The motif on the reverse is "shochiku," which is used to indicate the New Year. It consists of black inlayed bamboo, incised pine boughs, and two small plum blossoms. The upper flower is inlayed in mother of pearl and gold. The lower flower is in gold.
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)
Measurements
3 3/4 in. (9.6 cm) (l.)
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.
51.642