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Source Description
This crab is so life-like that one would think it was cast from life; however, evidence of tool marks made in the original model raise the possibility that this is essentially an artistic interpretation. However, individual parts may have been cast indirectly from dead specimens and then worked up; the use of a punch tool on the shells is very clear. Little is known about this artist except that he cast his signature on the underside. He is assumed to have worked at about the same time as Seimin. Perhaps he set out to demonstrate his virtuosity by competing with life casting.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
3595
label
Crab
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
4
Source metadata
id
3595
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Crab
description
This crab is so life-like that one would think it was cast from life; however, evidence of tool marks made in the original model raise the possibility that this is essentially an artistic interpretation. However, individual parts may have been cast indirectly from dead specimens and then worked up; the use of a punch tool on the shells is very clear. Little is known about this artist except that he cast his signature on the underside. He is assumed to have worked at about the same time as Seimin. Perhaps he set out to demonstrate his virtuosity by competing with life casting.
provenance
William T. Walters, Baltimore, before 1884 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1894, by inheritance; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
ca. 1818-1843 (late Edo)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Metal
figurines
imageCount
4
pageCount
4
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
7.5
height
21.2
depth
15
dimensionsRaw
H: 2 15/16 × W: 8 3/8 × D: 5 7/8 in. (7.5 × 21.2 × 15 cm)
Source extras
cul
Japanese
inscriptions
hidemitsu chu; [Translation] Cast by Hidemitsu
med
cast bronze
creator_ids
1923
collection_ids
JPK
exhibition_ids
34
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
fcd0c1157b743aef
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
7e1f948a1ce95780
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
a3da3a14320c1903
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
39e8c6625d2300c2
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no