Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Kozuka with an Elephant
(Japanese Military Armor)
Elephants are not native to Japan, but live animals were brought to Japan by foreign traders at least twice during the Edo period. In the early 18th century, an elephant being taken from the port of Nagasaki to the military capital of Edo had an audience with the emperor in Kyoto. However, elephants were known to most Japanese people through woodblock prints. On the kozuka, the elephant is depicted in copper with gold highlights. The background has a pattern that resembled tree bark.
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 (Place of Origin)
Measurements
3 3/4 in. (9.5 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.
51.693