Skip to main content

Sword-Grip Ornament (menuki) in the Form of a Courtier with a Folded Parasol

Culture
Japanese
Date
c.1615–1868
Material
Bronze, silver
made in
Japan, Asia
Classification
Arms & armor, metalwork
Collection
Asian Art
Current Location
Not on view
Dimensions
2 x 9/16 x 1/8 in. (5.1 x 1.4 x 0.3 cm)
weight: 0.1 oz.
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. John M. Wulfing
Rights
Public Domain
Object Number
657:1949
- 1929
John M. Wulfing [John Maximilian Wulfing (1859–1929)], St. Louis, MO [1]

1929 - 1949
Mrs. John M. Wulfing [Lillie Guye Wulfing (1869–1949)], St. Louis, MO, by inheritance [2]

1949
Mrs. Eugene Tavenner [Hildegarde Wulfing Morris Tavenner (1890–1963)], St. Louis, MO, by inheritance [3]

1949-
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Mrs. Eugene Tavenner [4]


Notes:
[1] According to Museum Curator Thomas T. Hoopes, in his article "A Study Collection of Japanese Sword Guards" from the Bulletin of the City Art Museum of St. Louis, vol. 22, no. 3 (July 1937), p. 34, Mrs. John M. Wulfing loaned the object to the Museum in 1937 as part of a collection of 373 sword guards (tsuba) and other pieces of sword furniture assembled by her late husband, John Maximilian Wulfing.

[2] See note [1].

[3] In 1949, after the death of Mrs. John M. Wulfing, one of her daughters, Mrs. Eugene Tavenner donated to the Museum a collection of 342 Japanese sword guards (tsuba) (298–638:1949), 31 additional pieces (639–670:1949), and miscellaneous books that had been assembled by her father, John Maximilian Wulfing, and inherited by her mother after his death in 1929.

[4] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, November 3, 1949.

We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.