Keman (Altar Pendant)
Date1st half of 19th century
MediumGilt bronze
Dimensions14 x 14 in. (35.6 x 35.5 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Miriam H. Kirkley in memory of Paul A. Kirkley
Object number1995.63
Terms
- Edo (Japanese period)
Object TypeMetalwork
On View
Not on viewCalled keman in Japanese, this pair of metal objects functioned as an altar pendant that would have been hung from inside a Buddhist shrine. Originally natural flowers tied with string were used in this manner, but later these ritual objects were made of wood, cowhide, or as here, metal. Keman reflect their origins in the prominent tied sash motif and the open-work pattern of stylized flowers.
The presence of the wild hollyhock, the crest of the ruling Tokugawa clan in 16th to 19th century Japan, places the pair within the Edo period, and the stylization of the floral motifs compares with lacquerware from the early 19th century.
The presence of the wild hollyhock, the crest of the ruling Tokugawa clan in 16th to 19th century Japan, places the pair within the Edo period, and the stylization of the floral motifs compares with lacquerware from the early 19th century.
1st half of 19th century
18th - 19th century
18th - 19th century
18th - 19th century
