Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with a Dragon Holding a Pearl
18th century (Edo)
iron and gold
(Japanese Military Armor)
(Japanese Military Armor)
A dragon wraps around this tsuba, holding a pearl of wisdom at the upper left. These pearls are said to be used by dragons to control the tides of the ocean. Clouds around the dragon's body form the secondary holes for the utility knife and hair pick.
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.
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, Kyoto (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 2 11/16 in. (6.8 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.
51.236