Kogai with Chinese-style Lions

Description Two Chinese-style lions ("shishi") are depicted in gold against a black background of fish egg pattern ("nanako-ji"). This style of lion was developed by artists who never saw a living lion. Therefore, they look more like dogs than lions. This is part of a mounted set.

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acqusition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions [Signature] 後藤光信; [Translation] Gotô Mitsunobu (kao)

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters