Kozuka with Autumn Flowers and Hidden Shunga Scene
(Japanese Military Armor)
The front of the kozuka depicts six of the seven celebrated autumn flowers worked in various metals. The flowers are bush clover, mist flower, chrysanthemum, pampas grass, fringed pink flower, and Chinese bell flower. On the reverse, which would have been hidden when the kozuka was sheathed in the scabbard, is an assignation scene between a gentleman and a lady in the costume of Heian period courtiers. Behind them is a koto instrument. One of the robes they have cast off is also decorated with pampas grass. This is part of a mounted set.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
William T. / Henry Walters Collection, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan, Tokyo (Edo) (Place of Origin)
Measurements
L: 8 9/16 in. (21.7 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by William T. or 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.
51.1270.3