AN 18K GOLD-MOUNTED COPPER OBIDOME (SASH CLIP) DEPICTING KAN’U Japan, first half of 20^th century

The legendary general with a grim expression and portly countenance, sitting on his large halberd, the blade emerging from a dragon head, the details in gold and silver. The gold mounting with two rectangular loops, one of which is hallmarked ‘K18’.

LENGTH 4.7 cm
WEIGHT 12 g

Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear.
Provenance: French private collection.

The obidome (sash clips) are miniature mixed metal clips which were mounted to the obi (sash) with the help of a cord. Like kagamibuta netsuke and kanamono they were fashion accessories, many of them made by famous and celebrated metalwork artists who previously made sword fittings, which fell out of demand due to the Sword Abolishment Edict in 1876. The craftsmanship of these certainly rivaled those of the finest Western jewelers.