Tsuba with Catfish and Eel

Description This tsuba is made in the shape of a catfish. The fish is wrapped around the central opening so that that its mouth touches its tail at the upper left. On the catfish's back, at the right side of the tsuba, is an eel. Both catfish and eel are associated with summer.

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

Inscriptions [Signature] 財彫子　入山善知; [Translation] Saichôshi/Iriyama Yoshitomo (kao); [Inscription] 江州　彦根住; [Transliteration] Gôshû/Hikone jû; [Translation] Residing in Hikone, Gôshû

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters