Tsuba with a Tiger and a Dragon

Description A tiger crouches at the right side of this tsuba. Across the top is a dragon. The reverse shows the dragon's tail and a waterfall. Pairings of dragons and tigers show the power of the elements (the dragon) over even strong animals (the tiger).

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions [Seal] Naoshige; [Signature] 鉄元堂　正楽; [Translation] Tetsugendo/Shoraku

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters