Japanese kagamibuta, three figures by a bridge

An image of Netsuke: kagamibuta. Three figures by a bridge. Unknown maker, Japan. Circular plain bowl with central himotoshi and the inner rim with traces of green staining. Shibuichi disc moulded with three figures by a bridge over a river (Awo-to Fuji-tsuna). A warrior, his patterned kimono in shakudo inlaid with silver, stands on the rocks wearing a hat and holding a fan; his belt and sword are of yellow metal (gold) with flowering chrysanthemums behind five flower heads in yellow metal. His attendant kneels on a bridge over the water, his head, hairy arms and legs are of copper alloy (brown) and he is holding a flaming torch (gold); the third figure is crouching beneath the rocks in the water. Ivory bowl, with stained inner rim and himotoshi, with moulded metal disc, with inlaid decoration, and eyelet, height, whole, 1.9 cm, width, whole, 4.5 cm, circa 1800-1868. Edo Period (1615-1868).

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Netsuke: kagamibuta. Three figures by a bridge. Unknown maker, Japan. Circular plain bowl with central himotoshi and the inner rim with traces of green staining. Shibuichi disc moulded with three figures by a bridge over a river (Awo-to Fuji-tsuna). A warrior, his patterned kimono in shakudo inlaid with silver, stands on the rocks wearing a hat and holding a fan; his belt and sword are of yellow metal (gold) with flowering chrysanthemums behind five flower heads in yellow metal. His attendant kneels on a bridge over the water, his head, hairy arms and legs are of copper alloy (brown) and he is holding a flaming torch (gold); the third figure is crouching beneath the rocks in the water. Ivory bowl, with stained inner rim and himotoshi, with moulded metal disc, with inlaid decoration, and eyelet, height, whole, 1.9 cm, width, whole, 4.5 cm, circa 1800-1868. Edo Period (1615-1868).

Image data

Accession Number: O.41-1991
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/32.0
Focal length: 100
Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Photographer name: Image Library; Fitzwilliam Museum
Image height: 997 pixels
Image width: 1024 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)
Filesize: 111.64kB
Exposure time: 1/30
ISO Speed: 100
Fnumber: 32/1
Captured: 2000:01:01 17:33:27

Key words

19th Century alloy attendants bridge carved cast chrysanthemum circular copper copper alloy disc disk figures Fitz_AA flaming torch flowers gold himotoshi inlaid inlay ivory Japanese kagamibuta kimono male metalwork moulded netsuke relief river round shakudo Shibuichi disc stained swords torch torchlight warriors

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            "Japanese kagamibuta, three figures by a bridge"
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