Tsuba with an Immortal Seeing a Flying Crane

Description On the lower right of the tsuba stand a Chinese immortal and his attendent. A crane flies across the upper left. Cranes are a symbol of longevity. This sage may be Kangai, who is often shown with a crane. On the reverse is a bridge crossing a stream. Both secondary holes have been plugged. The composition of this tsuba is almost identical to another in the collection by Hirotoshi (Walters 51.193).

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

Inscriptions [Signature] 一乗斎　弘寿; [Translation] Ichijosai Hirotoshi

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters