Museum

Tokugawa Art Museum spotlights ‘唐銅飛龍形百目大筒’ cannon with dragon-mouth opening

Tokugawa Art Museum spotlights ‘唐銅飛龍形百目大筒’ cannon with dragon-mouth opening Image: Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya

The Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya has highlighted ‘唐銅飛龍形百目大筒’, a large cannon distinguished by a dragon-shaped muzzle and a pedestal decorated with wave motifs. The museum’s post presents the object as a striking example of craftsmanship, pairing its imposing scale with carefully worked decorative details.

According to the museum’s description, the cannon’s opening takes the form of a dramatic dragon mouth, giving the weapon a sculptural presence that goes beyond its practical function. The pedestal, meanwhile, carries wave patterns that underscore the level of attention given to the object’s finish. The post emphasizes these visual qualities rather than technical specifications or a broader interpretive context.

The Tokugawa Art Museum, based in Nagoya, is known for presenting works tied to the Tokugawa family collection and related cultural materials. In this case, the museum has used its social media channel to draw attention to an object from that holdings context, focusing on its appearance and the intricacy of its construction.

The museum’s post does not provide a separate exhibition title, opening date or duration for the display. It instead centers on the cannon itself, using a close visual presentation to show the dragon motif at the barrel opening and the carved or molded wave ornament on the base. The object’s Japanese title, ‘唐銅飛龍形百目大筒’, identifies it as a bronze cannon and points to the fantastical dragon form that defines its design.

Seen as an art-historical object, the cannon sits at the intersection of metalwork, military technology and decorative design. The museum’s framing draws attention to that combination by highlighting both the dramatic silhouette and the refined treatment of the supporting pedestal.

The post was published on August 1, 2026, and identifies the Tokugawa Art Museum as the venue presenting the object. No further schedule details were included in the source material.

Related stories

Nagashino battle screen leaves view on 25 August as Tokugawa Art Museum's 'Bugei: Samurai Athletes' runs to 27 September Image: Key visual for the summer special exhibition 'Bugei: Samurai Athletes', 25 July to 27 September 2026, incorporating the mounted archer from Yoshu Chikanobu's 'Chiyoda no On-omote: Yabusame Joran', 1897. Courtesy of the Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya
Museum

Nagashino battle screen leaves view on 25 August as Tokugawa Art Museum's 'Bugei: Samurai Athletes' runs to 27 September

Read full story Nagoya · 15 Aug 2026 [REPORT]

Spotted a factual error in this brief?

Tokugawa Art Museum spotlights ‘唐銅飛龍形百目大筒’ cannon with dragon-mouth opening

Describe it below — our editors review every report before anything changes.