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Pair of Sword-Grip Ornaments (Menuki)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Two metal ornaments with floral designs. The ornaments are shaped like the grip of a sword. The top ornament is gold-colored with black, brown, and gold flowers and leaves. The flowers are in various stages of bloom. The leaves are pointed and have a textured surface. The bottom ornament is similar but with a black base and gold accents. The background is light gray. The ornaments are symmetrical. They are made of metal and have a shiny appearance. The ornaments are likely Japanese in origin. They are called Pair of Sword-Grip Ornaments, also known as Menuki.

Artwork Details

Date
18th century
Medium
Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, copper
Culture
Japanese
Dimensions
600 × 480 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette