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Pair of Sword-Grip Ornaments (Menuki)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image shows a pair of gold-colored sword-grip ornaments, also known as menuki. The ornaments are oblong, with one above the other. They feature a dragon design with intricate details. The dragons have curved bodies, with their heads at one end and tails at the other. The dragons are surrounded by curly, swirling patterns that resemble waves or flames. The background of the image is a plain gray color. The ornaments appear to be made of metal, likely gold or brass, and have a shiny surface. The image presents a top-down view of the ornaments. The ornaments are symmetrical, with one being a mirror image of the other.

Artwork Details

Date
possibly early 17th century
Medium
Gold
Culture
Japanese
Dimensions
600 × 480 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette