Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with Dragon Ascending Through Clouds
(Japanese Military Armor)
Dragons are symbols of power and regularly depicted in Japanese art. They are associated with the sky and water, so they are often shown with clouds. In this tsuba, the dragon's head and a front claw are at the top of the tsuba. Most of its body is in clouds and the tail reemerges at the bottom. On the reverse, one of the lower legs of dragon emerges from clouds. Both secondary holes in the tsuba have been plugged.
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 uknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan, Kyoto (Place of Origin)
Measurements
3 1/8 x 2 7/8 x 3/16 in. (7.88 x 7.3 x 0.43 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.
51.330