Mar 16, 2024
Large Menuki in the form of a Dragon and Ken. Gotô School. Edo period. Japan. Gold. 17th–18th century.
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Large Menuki in the form of a Dragon and Ken. Gotô School. Edo period. Japan. Gold. 17th–18th century.
Menuki in the form of a shishi, Japan late 18th–early 19th century.
Main material: silver; other metals: gold and shakudo
Decorative technique: uchidashi, takabori, zogan
▪︎ Pair of menuki in the form of dragons wirh sword and jewel.
School: Gotô School
Culture: Japanese
Period/Date: Muromachi period, 16th century
Medium: Main material: gold; decorative technique: uchidashi, takabori.
Minogame
Behold, a minogame: the mythical turtle that no one asked for, but that everyone needs. The minogame is a giant mythological turtle that makes many appearances in Japanese art, design and culture. The creature is said to have lived at least 1,000 years, and have a long tail made from seaweed and algae accumulated from many years leaving under the sea. In Japanese culture, the minogame represents longevity, wisdom and good fortune. This figure of a minogame is actually a menuki, a decorative ornament that was woven under the handle wrapping of a sword.
Snail menuki (Japanese scabbard decoration)
Sword-Grip Ornaments (Menuki), Joseph Pulitzer Bequest 1938, MMA, NY
Pair of menuki in the form of bats (Japanese, Edo period).
Unsigned.
Image and text courtesy MFA Boston.