Bronze openwork expresses an ornamental knot (agemaki) at the center of this pendant flanked by mirroring long-tailed birds. Its motifs of imaginary flowers and scrolling vines known as hōsōge and karakusa respectively are prevalent in Buddhist art. A sense of three-dimensionality is achieved through the slight swelling of the heads and bodies of the birds, which were produced through repoussé: forms are shaped by hammering sheets of metal. This pendant comes from Jōgon'in, a temple in Ōmihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture.
Object label
Keman, Pendant Ornament with Open-work Designs of Birds and Scrolls
Gilt bronze
L 33.2, W 39.9
Kamakura period 14th century
- D009780
- D009780
- 1994/08/31
- D009782
- 1994/08/31
- A215407
- 1994/08/31
- A215409
- 1994/08/31
More
| Accession Number | 1188-0 |
|---|---|
| Category | Decorative Arts |
| Provenance | Formerly kept on Jōgon-in temple, Shiga |
| Bibliography | Nara National Museum News Vol.128. Nara National Museum, 2024.1, 8p. Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection of Nara National Museum: Supplement. Nara National Museum, 1999, 108p. (Japanese) |

