An absolutely exquisite antique 1800s Japanese Meiji period wedding set of ceremonial shakudo jewellery buttons/brooches with incredible detailed mixed metalwork design depicting a pair of cranes under a setting sun or rising moon with gold trees.
Comprising of of two larger antique brooch buttons now and three smaller stud buttons all pictured with wonderfully detailed artistic netsuke cranes in shakudo mixed metals of gold and silver picked out in high relief on the black of the main discs.
Symbolically the Japanese crane was used to represent a long and happy marriage due to their habit of mating for life and reputedly having a lifespan of a thousand years, making it a perfect lucky totem for weddings, longevity and wisdom.
- On the reverse of the larger brooches are pins but it looks like these were once buttons as you can see evidence of a central mount. However the pins look like they were done many years ago.
- They measure 30mm.
- The smaller set of three stud buttons each has a unique design but still featuring the moon and cranes.
- These are so rare and highly collectible, definitely not something you discover often!