Description East Asia, Japan, Edo Period, ca. 1603 to 1868 CE. Two wonderful sets of cast-copper and cast-silver menuki meant to be secured within the handle wraps of a traditional Japanese sword. Each shorter copper menuki feature a trio of petite vegetables - perhaps eggplants/aubergine - atop a field of incised clouds. The taller pair of silver (80-85%) menuki depict intricate flowers with lengthy stems, wavy blossoms, and delicate petals. Each menuki are accentuated with thin layers of 98% gilding that imbues them with depth and character. Size of largest (floral): 0.5" W x 2.125" H (1.3 cm x 5.4 cm); quality of gilding: 98%; quality of silver: 80-85%.
Provenance: ex-private San Francisco, California, USA collection
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#149006
Condition Report All four items have very slight bending to overall form and minor fading to applied gilding, otherwise intact and excellent. Great patina throughout.