Menuki 目貫 Waves and Dragons Design

Design: Waves and Dragons

Mei: Mumei, but has been attributed to the Kyo-Kinko Tradition

Material: Shakudow and Gold with Silver

Era: Mid Edo Period

Region: Kyoto Province

It is a Menuki with a wave and dragon design; it is a Mumei but a very well made one, probably by a goldsmith in Kyoto. It is important to note that the gold inlaying is done using the Uttori technique, in which a gold plate is inlaid at the edge of the inlaying process. 

Uttori is a technique used only until the old days (around the Mid Edo period), and silver is also used in this menuki. Silver was very expensive in the mid-Edo period, so it is clear that a considerable amount of money was spent on this menuki at the time of its production.