Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with Fireflies among Grass
(Japanese Military Armor)
Grasses wrap around the central opening of this narrow tsuba. Two fireflies are carved along the edge, one at the upper right and one at the lower left. The lower firefly's wings are slightly open. In folk tales, fireflies are sometimes associated with supernatural activity. There are also stories of scholars studying by the light of the fireflies.
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, Hagi (Place of Origin)
Measurements
2 x 1 5/16 x 1/8 in. (5.08 x 3.26 x 0.29 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.
51.164