Keman

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On display

V&A South Kensington
Japan, Room 45, The Toshiba Gallery

This object consists of 3 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Place of origin

Japan (made)

The lotus flower symbolises the human purity that can arise from the mud of the material world. The interiors of Buddhist temples were traditionally decorated with fresh flowers strung together on ropes. Over time the practice developed of substituting real flowers with hanging panels, often made of pierced and gilded bronze. These were suspended from temple crossbeams.

Object details

Categories	Buddhism Metalwork
Object type	keman
Parts	This object consists of 3 parts. KEMAN KEMAN PENDANT
Materials and techniques	Hammered, pierced and gilded bronze
Brief description	Buddist hanging garland (keman), bronze, in the form of a panel with openwork lotus pattern and a bow, suspending six chains of pendents and bells, Japan, 1650-1750.
Physical description	Gilded bronze hanging, the main part is roughly rectangle with rounded corners, decorated with openwork and chiselled lotus patterns and a bow in relief; below, six suspension of chained pendents and bells.
Dimensions	Height: 635mm (Note: Measurement taken from register, converted from inches. ) Width: 320mm (Note: Measurement taken from register, converted from inches. )
Gallery label	(04/11/2015) Hanging garland (keman) with lotus flowers 1650–1750 The lotus flower symbolises the human purity that can arise from the mud of the material world. The interiors of Buddhist temples were traditionally decorated with fresh flowers strung together on ropes. Over time the practice developed of substituting real flowers with hanging panels, often made of pierced and gilded bronze. These were suspended from temple crossbeams. Hammered, pierced and gilded bronze Museum no. M.241A-1926
Summary	The lotus flower symbolises the human purity that can arise from the mud of the material world. The interiors of Buddhist temples were traditionally decorated with fresh flowers strung together on ropes. Over time the practice developed of substituting real flowers with hanging panels, often made of pierced and gilded bronze. These were suspended from temple crossbeams.
Collection	East Asia Collection
Accession number	M.241-1926

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Record created	June 25, 2009
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O467086/keman/

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