The Cleveland Museum of Art

• Full conservation statement
  The figures are carved in the yosegi-zukuri (寄木造) or joined-woodblock technique. In this technique, the sculptor begins with blocks of wood that have been cut from a larger piece to fit the size and shape of predetermined sections of the figure. These blocks are hollowed out on the inside, then roughly carved to the desired shapes. They are joined with glue, and the carving is completed. In contrast to carving a whole figure from a single block, this technique greatly reduced the amount of wood that needed to be removed and contributed to greater efficiency and speed in production. In these figures, the heads and hands were conceived and carved as separate elements that fit into recesses in the figure, and were not attached with glue. However, the wood block for each head was cut apart around the face and both sides were hollowed out, allowing for the insertion of reverse-painted rock crystal eyes, or gyokugan.
  
  As befits their status as guardians, both figures would have held a sword; an opening is visible just below each figure's left hand that would have allowed the hilt to be inserted. This hole continues through to the back of the figure to allow the sword sheath to protrude out the back. Well-preserved areas of paint are visible on both, particularly on the faces and in the recesses of the drapery. The younger figure wears a green patterned cloak over trousers, both of which have a bright red lining; the elder figure has less well-preserved paint layers, but the red lining of his clothes is still visible. Their faces are painted white with red lips, they have black hair, and the elder shows a well-preserved black moustache and tiny black eyelashes around the openings for the crystal eyes. Both wear a black-painted cap, or kanmuri, with a topknot. The older figure's kanmuri has a metal tail hanging down the back of the head; this is missing on the younger figure. Both figures have a square cushion placed at the back, and a small quiver at the back right shoulder.
  
  In both figures, the glue joins have separated over time, and the blocks have been variously rejoined at a later date. The younger figure's front and back torso sections and proper left arm section remain separate, while the components of the older (bearded) figure are all joined with adhesives and wire nails. There are small losses to the wood at the edges of the blocks or ridges of the drapery. The existing paint layers are fragile and lifting from the wood in many areas.
• Provenance
  at least c. 1965–c. 2013

  Catherine Gray Jackson and Chapin Jackson, Darien, CT, by descent to her niece Dorothy Gray Shinn

  c. 2013–2020

  (Dorothy Gray Shinn and Ron Shinn, Akron, OH, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)

  2020–

  The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
• Cite this Page
  {{cite web|title=Pair of Guardian Figures (Zuishin)|url=false|author=|year=c. 1560–1625|access-date=21 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}