Brush Holder

Japan

Not on view

Various metals are inlaid in relief on the dark rough surface of cast iron, creating effects of light and color in the naturalistic decoration. Moonlight seems to glisten on the web of silver that fans over the cylindrical form. A spider, realistically shaped in shibuichi (an alloy of copper and silver), scurries toward the outer edge of the web, where a dragonfly of gold and copper is seen caught on the other side.

Brush Holder, Cast iron with relief inlay in silver, gold and shibuichi, Japan

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