15th century
Buddhist Ornament (Keman)
Artist/maker unknownKeman are hung from the rafters of Japanese Buddhist temple halls. This gilded copper example is in the shape of a round fan, with small rings around the outer edge that would have held additional gilded metal ornaments or small bells. Keman are believed to have originated from the flower garlands used in India to decorate Buddhist sculptures; this floral ancestry is reflected here in the motifs of lotus blossoms and ribbon ties.
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