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Pair of Sword-Grip Ornaments (Menuki)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Two gold-colored sword-grip ornaments in the shape of insects, one with a black body and the other with a brown and black body, on a gray background. The top ornament has a black body with gold legs and antennae and gold wings. The bottom ornament has gold wings and legs and a gold body with a brown and black pattern on its back. Both ornaments have a similar shape with a bulbous body and wings protruding from the sides.

Artwork Details

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