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Bonsai or flower basin made of forty scabbard pieces

forty sections of several antique sword scabbards (saya) set about the basin; basin of copper inserted in a wood base with surrounding belts of tiger-striped, ebony-like hardwood; between belts are alternating sections of 19 scabbards made of different materials; handles on each end are the actual knobs (kurigata) to attach a braided cord (sageo) to the scabbard; see Notes for descriptions of each scabbard piece (from exhibition catalogue)

Date
late 19th century
In our collection
since October the 19th, 2012 up to now
Dimensions
3 3/4 × 24 3/16 × 13 1/16 in. (9.53 × 61.44 × 33.18 cm)
Location
Not on View
Medium
Wood, lacquer, copper and other metals, abalone, lizard skin, shark skin
Price
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Composition
zinc61%
copper26%
cadmium10%
atium2%
iron1%