menuki (sword trim)

menuki (sword trim) , date unknown

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: metal

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.2609

Not on display

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Collection Cards: Collect

Look closely at the fine details on this miniature metal ornament. This item depicts a ship at full sail under a moonlit landscape panel on one half of the fan shape. On the other half of the fan there are large blossoms and a hen with its beak open.

Who do you think would use this object and for what function? What leads you to these ideas?

Small accessories, like this one, covered the hardware that connected the handles of Japanese swords to their blades. Although the exquisite decoration of menuki, or sword-grip ornaments, generally remained hidden underneath silk braiding, they helped define the sword’s character and establish a connection to its owner. Although these accessories were important to both the sword and samurai, these small metal sculptures also became collectors’ items, even without an accompanying sword. Sallie Casey Thayer acquired a number of them, along with other types of ornate sword fittings and even a few complete swords.

What would you depict on a menuki to symbolize a sword, or some other important object, and its meaning to you? What shape might you create for it? What decorative details would you add?

Civic Leader and Art Collector: Sallie Casey Thayer and an Art Museum for KU

Small accessories like this one covered the hardware that connected the handles of Japanese swords to their blades. Although the exquisite decoration of menuki, or sword-grip ornaments, generally remained hidden underneath silk braiding, they nonetheless helped define the sword’s character, creating a connection to its owner. Important to the sword and the samurai, these small metal sculptures became collectors’ items with or without the sword. Sallie Casey Thayer acquired a number of these artifacts along with other types of ornate sword fittings, as well as a few complete swords.

Tap the image above and swipe to view a Samurai Sword Fittings Diagram created by the Denver Art Museum and to see the many parts of a Japanese sword.