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About this object

History of use

Worn on clothing. Repousse is highly used and treasured decorative method on sword furniture such as the guard (tsuba), hilt, and other mountings, and on armour. Japanese masters in the art of adding coloured metals (uttori) for decorative purposes since Joshin, member of the Goto family (1511-1562), began using this method.

Physical description

Round metal button with surface designs in high relief: robust figure of bald-headed man wading through water. He wears draped pants, cloak and carries items on his back from over-the-shoulder pole supported out front by both hands. Fan-like item in copper inlay attached to end of pole at his back. Elevation is highly polished to smooth gold-coloured finish. Reverse with elevated rim: central area has spotted copper and lacquer-like finish with soldered loop attached over top.