Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with Geese and Autumn Reeds
(Japanese Military Armor)
Traditional Japanese culture is extremely sensitive to seasonality in artistic motifs and personal adornment. This tsuba evokes autumn through its decorations. The front shows two ducks under the reeds. On the back, a full moon shines over reeds. Autumn was the time to hold moon viewing parties on nights with full moons. Furthermore, pairs of mandarin ducks are a sign of conjugal fidelity because they mate for life.
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, Tokyo (Edo) (Place of Origin)
Measurements
2 13/16 in. (7.1 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.
51.108