Victorian Shakudo Bird with Cherry Blossoms Pendant

From our Antique Jewelry University: Menuki are small decorative elements (2 to 8 cm) composed of mixed metals and are used to decorate traditional Samurai sword handles. When sword-making ceased, these beautiful little masterpieces were often adapted as jewelry elements. In this case, a menuki fabricated using the shakudo technique (which involves inlaying gold, silver, and copper into a darkened copper base) has been repurposed as a striking pendant. The thick and elegantly elongated oval is overlaid with a gleaming bird precariously perched on a cherry blossom branch, while the velvety gold back is hand engraved with a fanciful Victorian monogram. A captivating composition, the ornament swivels around by means of an artfully twisted gold wire ball and is dramatically complemented by a black cord (included upon request). A cool one. Circa 1885.