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Source Description
Turtles were attractive as display objects in Japan because they were seen as symbols of long life and happiness. These appear to be cast from actual specimens of the semi-aquatic species Mauremys Japonica. Each was cast separately, then pinned to the others. Murata Seimin was highly acclaimed as a master metal caster and was famous for these turtles. According to legend, the turtles that he used were alive, and one of his heirs suffered a painful death because of the turtles' curse.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
36774
label
Eleven Turtles
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
36774
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Eleven Turtles
description
Turtles were attractive as display objects in Japan because they were seen as symbols of long life and happiness. These appear to be cast from actual specimens of the semi-aquatic species Mauremys Japonica. Each was cast separately, then pinned to the others. Murata Seimin was highly acclaimed as a master metal caster and was famous for these turtles. According to legend, the turtles that he used were alive, and one of his heirs suffered a painful death because of the turtles' curse.
provenance
Kay Collection Sale, Hotel Drouot, Paris, 1913 (?); William T. Walters, Baltimore, prior to 1884 [pictured in 1884 gallery photograph] [mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1894, by inheritance; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
ca. 1818-1829 (late Edo)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Metal
figurines
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
14.9
height
37
depth
30.5
dimensionsRaw
H: 5 7/8 × W: 14 9/16 × D: 12 in. (14.9 × 37 × 30.5 cm)
Source extras
cul
Japanese
inscriptions
bunsei nen seimin chu; [Translation] Cast by Seimin
Bunsei era (1818-29)
med
cast bronze
creator_ids
3972
collection_ids
JPK
exhibition_ids
34
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
e6ab8ace2c725bf2