Metals and metal-working in old Japan . o manyof the art-works of the brilliant Nara Period been preserved,his w^ork during this time would be regarded as the beginningsof art-metal work. Copper coated with silver and with goldwere employed as before, but nothing approaching the oldNara objects in beauty of form or ornament was producedin copper until comparatively modern times. Examples of architectural decoration of the beginning ofthe seventeenth century are two gigantic fishes—shachihoko,so-called dolphins—which adorn the ridge of the roof of thechief tower of the castle of Nagoya. They ar
Metals and metal-working in old Japan . o manyof the art-works of the brilliant Nara Period been preserved,his w^ork during this time would be regarded as the beginningsof art-metal work. Copper coated with silver and with goldwere employed as before, but nothing approaching the oldNara objects in beauty of form or ornament was producedin copper until comparatively modern times. Examples of architectural decoration of the beginning ofthe seventeenth century are two gigantic fishes—shachihoko,so-called dolphins—which adorn the ridge of the roof of thechief tower of the castle of Nagoya. They are about nine feetin height, and w^ere erected by a famous general, KatoKiyomasa, on his return from the Korean expedition in1610 They were said to be of solid gold, and their valuehad been estimated at ;{^25,ooo sterling. Some years ago I hadan opportunity of examining one of them, and found that, likemany objects of historical interest, they are not what traditionrepresents them to be, but are only of copper coated with DETAILS OF FITTINGS OF THE TAMAMAKI NO TACHI AND SUGARU NO TACHI.(Joly and Inada, The Szcord and Same, 1913.) Japan Society: Transactions, Vol. XIII.— METALS AND METAL WORKING IN OLD JAPAN.—Gow/a»t^. [Plate XV.]—/ace >. 60. ( 6i ) They are constructed of thin plates of the metal rivetedand soldered together, and are the largest examples of giltcopper-work in the country. In later times, especially during the last two centuries, wefind copper in extensive use as a decorative metal for vessels andutensils for domestic use, and for the mounts of swords and thelike. In such cases the metal is but seldom gilt; the craftsmanrelies on the richly coloured patinas in shades of brown andred which he produces on its surface for giving beauty andcharm to his work. A specimen of the latter end of theeighteenth century, shown in Plate XVI., is a kettle for heatingwater, richly decorated with leafy scrolls in repousse w^ork, andbearing a fine brown p
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookpublisherlondonsn, booksubjectmetalwork
