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Articulated iron snake
Myochin Munenobu - Enlarge image
Articulated iron snake
- Place of origin:
Japan (made)
- Date:
1750 to 1800 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Myochin Munenobu (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
Hammered iron, articulated and gilded
- Museum number:
M.38-1947
- Gallery location:
In Storage
Representational sculpture of animals and insects had been known in Japan from the middle of the Edo period (1600-1868), when bronze figures had been made for display in the tokonoma, the alcove in a Japanese house where works of art were displayed. These items were produced by traditional armour makers, or by those who made the decorative fittings for swords.
The Myochin school of armour makers specialised in jizai - lifelike articulated figures of animals. Jizai are realistically shaped figures of animals made from iron, copper, shibuichi (copper and silver alloy) and shakudo (copper and gold alloy). Their bodies and limbs are articulated, and can be moved like real animals. Among these ornamental figures, models of birds, fishes, snakes, lobsters, crabs and insects, as well as imaginary beings such as dragons, are common.
http://www.tnm.jp/modules/r_free_page/index.php?id=573&lang=en
