Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuka with Catfish Menuki
(Japanese Military Armor)
This hilt is wrapped with baleen. On either side are menuki depicting a catfish and a gourd. The catfish are a reference to a Zen riddle questioning how one can capture a catfish with a gourd. The kashira at the end repeats same stylized gold waves used on the tsuba. This is part of a mounted set.
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.
William T. / Henry Walters Collection, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan (Place of Origin)
Measurements
L: 12.6 cm (12.6 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by William T. or 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.
51.1145.3B
