Antique Shakudo Japanese button, early 1900s, 30mm diameter
Detailed etched design of long tailed phoenix, surrounded by scalloped frame alternating gold and black in pristine condition
Shakudo is an ancient Japanese mix of copper and gold, which can also be made black to make the gold stand out. This metal was originally used primarily to make or decorate traditional Japanese swords.
After the Japanese government outlawed the Samurai in 1876, metal smiths applied their considerable talents to making buttons, cuff links, and other small ornaments with Shakudo
I regret not knowing much about these amazing little works of art.
They grabbed my attention in an antique shop about 30 years ago. I thought I'd make pendants out of them, but I never got around to it, so I'm offering them here to the the next person they inspire to collect, or build design around.
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection.
