Artwork preview

Pair of Sword-Grip Ornaments (Menuki)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Two black, metal sword-grip ornaments in the shape of dragons, one above the other, against a white background. The top ornament depicts a dragon with its head on the left and tail on the right. The bottom ornament shows a dragon with its tail on the left and head on the right. Each dragon has a spiky ridge along its back, and its body is covered in scales. The dragons have a textured appearance with raised details. They are likely made of metal and have a dark patina. The Pair of Sword-Grip Ornaments (Menuki) by an unknown artist.

Artwork Details

Date
17th century
Medium
Copper-gold alloy (shakudō)
Culture
Japanese
Dimensions
600 × 480 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette