Object Description
Group of fourteen Japanese Meiji period gilt metal plaques
Japanese, Late 19th Century
Height 2cm, width 2cm
These beautiful Japanese Meiji period plaques are crafted from an alloy of gold and copper that has been treated to render a black patina and then parcel gilt to accent details. The plaques, fourteen in total, are of various shapes, and each depicts a typical Japanese scene, such as courtly figures, blossoms, and birds. Today, such plaques are often found incorporated into jewellery, such as the centrepiece of cufflinks or necklaces.