Artwork preview

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
Museum record:
View original
Palette