Tsuba with Dragon and Jewel
(Japanese Military Armor)
On the right side of the tsuba, the body of a gold dragon appears to emerge from the tsuba. Part of the body can also be seen on the reverse. At the top of the tsuba, the dragon holds a tide controlling jewel in its hand. Dragons were associated with water and the sea. The background of the tsuba is worked in a fish egg pattern ("nanako-ji"). This is part of a mounted set.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
William T. / Henry Walters Collection, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by William T. or Henry Walters
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.
51.1212.2