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.
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Artwork Details
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Title:Brush Holder
Period:Meiji period (1868–1912)
Date:1850–1920
Culture:Japan
Medium:Cast iron with relief inlay in silver, gold and shibuichi
Dimensions:H. 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm); Diam. of rim 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm); Diam. of foot 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Classification:Metalwork
Credit Line:Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number:91.1.617
Edward C. Moore American, New York (until d. 1891; bequeathed to MMA).
Washington, DC. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. "Spiders!," June 11, 1994–January 2, 1995.
New York. American Museum of Natural History. "Spiders!," March 17, 1995–June 4, 1995.
Bloomfield Hills. Cranbrook Institute of Science. "Spiders!," July 1, 1995–September 24, 1995.
Toronto. Royal Ontario Museum. "Spiders!," October 11, 1995–January 14, 1996.
Philadelphia. Academy of Natural Sciences. "Spiders!," February 10, 1996–May 5, 1996.
Chicago. Field Museum of Natural History. "Spiders!," June 1, 1996–August 25, 1996.
Honolulu. Bernice P. Bishop Museum. "Spiders!," September 21, 1996–December 15, 1996.
Buffalo Museum of Science. "Spiders!," February 3, 1997–June 13, 1997.
San Francisco. California Academy of Sciences. "Spiders!," August 23, 1997–November 16, 1997.
Jacksonville. The Museum of Science & History. "Spiders!," December 13, 1997–March 8, 1998.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Art in Early Japan," 1999–2000.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Birds, Flowers, and Buddhist Paradise Imagery in Japanese Art," February 14–June 13, 2004.
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