Nail-Cover
ca. 1750-1800 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This decorative object is a nail-cover (Japanese: ‘kugikakushi’). It would have covered the head of a large nail used to pin a horizontal beam to an upright pillar. Nail-covers were employed in both domestic and religious architecture, and small architectural features such as this would have been used to embellish otherwise plain woodwork.
This nail-cover is in two parts. The gilded bronze frame is decorated in cloisonné enamels (enamel contained within wires) and champlevé enamels (enamels applied into a hollow carved out of the surface of the object). The central hammered iron plaque depicts a bird.
This nail-cover is in two parts. The gilded bronze frame is decorated in cloisonné enamels (enamel contained within wires) and champlevé enamels (enamels applied into a hollow carved out of the surface of the object). The central hammered iron plaque depicts a bird.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gilded bronze frame with cloisonne enamel decoration and inset iron plaque |
| Brief description | Met, Japan, ARCHITECTURAL FITTINGS, cloisonne |
| Physical description | Decorative nail-cover (Japanese: kugi-kakushi) |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | Purchased from Mr. Hogitaro Inada (78 Guildford Street, Russell Square, W.C.), accessioned in 1912. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Production | Middle Edo |
| Summary | This decorative object is a nail-cover (Japanese: ‘kugikakushi’). It would have covered the head of a large nail used to pin a horizontal beam to an upright pillar. Nail-covers were employed in both domestic and religious architecture, and small architectural features such as this would have been used to embellish otherwise plain woodwork. This nail-cover is in two parts. The gilded bronze frame is decorated in cloisonné enamels (enamel contained within wires) and champlevé enamels (enamels applied into a hollow carved out of the surface of the object). The central hammered iron plaque depicts a bird. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.293-1912 |
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| Record created | December 13, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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