Metals and metal-working in old Japan . 4<x XQ <u SI 19 U5*Q <0 HO j. ^1 Q M . o11 X 2 < o^ tnQ c° <.a: HO o CO ( 71 ) The figure is seated on a huge lotus flower with fifty-sixexternal petals, each of which measures lo ft. 6 in., andaypears to be a single casting. Twice it has been partiallydestroyed by conflagrations and once by an eartliquake. The present head, cast in the sixteenth century, is extremelyugly, destitute of any trace of the grace and refined expressionof the earlier statues, and not at all in harmony with theancient parts of the figure. The authorities of the t
Metals and metal-working in old Japan . 4<x XQ <u SI 19 U5*Q <0 HO j. ^1 Q M . o11 X 2 < o^ tnQ c° <.a: HO o CO ( 71 ) The figure is seated on a huge lotus flower with fifty-sixexternal petals, each of which measures lo ft. 6 in., andaypears to be a single casting. Twice it has been partiallydestroyed by conflagrations and once by an eartliquake. The present head, cast in the sixteenth century, is extremelyugly, destitute of any trace of the grace and refined expressionof the earlier statues, and not at all in harmony with theancient parts of the figure. The authorities of the temple state that the image iscomposed of shakudo (a copper alloy containing 3 to 5 per cent,of gold); they also give the weights of the copper, tin, gold,and mercury which were used in casting it, and these state-ments have been repeated by many writers. They arealtogether without any foundation in fact, I have had manyopportunities of examining it, and although I never succeededin getting a portion for analysis, yet from the streak, hard
Size: 1377px × 1813px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookpublisherlondonsn, booksubjectmetalwork
