Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with Chinese Lions Among Clouds
(Japanese Military Armor)
Two Chinese style lions are depicted on this tsuba. The body of one forms most of the top edge, while the second lion is at the bottom. Swirling clouds complete the tsuba. These stylized lions are called "Shishi" lions or Fu dogs. They do not resemble actual lions because their iconography was developed in China from painted images of lions brought into China. Lions are not native to either China or Japan.
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 acquistion unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 3 x W: 2 15/16 x D: 3/16 in. (7.63 x 7.41 x 0.46 cm)
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.
51.295