Button Item Number: Ed5.2948 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Round metal button with surface designs in high relief: barefooted man with cap is dressed in robe and draped pants. He walks with a fan in left hand. Pole in right hand is supported on shoulder; from top end, two items hang: disc of reddish-coloured copper inlay with engraved bird in centre, and triangular shapes in gold inlay. Bow of robe under chin, fan, and pole all in gold inlay. Area surrounding figure has blackened finish with remainder of button a silvery colour. Reddish-coloured reverse side with slightly elevated rim has angular cut copper loop attached. Two areas of green oxidation.
History Of Use
Worn on clothing. Repousse is highly used and treasured decorative method on sword furniture such as the guard (tsuba), hilt, and other mountings, and on armour. Japanese masters in the art of adding coloured metals (uttori) for decorative purposes since Joshin, member of the Goto family (1511-1562), began using this method.
Item History
- Made in Japan before 1980
- Owned by Joan Goodall before December 19, 1980
- Received from Joan Goodall (Donor) on December 19, 1980
What
- Name
- Button
- Identification Number
- Ed5.2948
- Type of Item
- button
- Material
- copper alloy metal, gold metal and copper metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- repousse, inlaid, soldered, engraved, punched and chiseled
- Overall
- height 1.0 cm, diameter 3.1 cm
Who
- Culture
- Japanese
- Previous Owner
- Joan Goodall
- Received from
- Joan Goodall (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Japan
When
- Creation Date
- before 1980
- Ownership Date
- before December 19, 1980
- Acquisition Date
- on December 19, 1980
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0694/0011