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Pair of Sword-Grip Ornaments (Menuki)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Two metal ornaments, Pair of Sword-Grip Ornaments (Menuki) by artist unknown. Ornaments are tapered and conical in shape, wider at the top and narrowing to a point at the bottom. The top ornament is made of dark-colored metal, possibly steel or iron, with visible signs of wear and a darker patina. The bottom ornament is made of gold-colored metal with a black stripe running horizontally across it. The gold-colored ornament has an etched design on its surface. Both ornaments have a small black metal piece protruding from the bottom, which appears to be a handle or attachment point. The background of the image is a plain gray color.

Artwork Details

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