華鬘|Keman (“Flower Garland” Temple Decoration)

Unknown

ca. 1725 · Gilded bronze · Asian Art

Keman (Sanskrit: kusumamala) literally means “garland of flowers,” and refers to pendant decorative disks, usually made of bronze in the shape of a round fan (uchiwa), that are suspended from beams of inner sanctuary of a temple, above a Buddhist statue. They are thought to have their origin in the garlands of fresh flowers that were offered to nobles in ancient India.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1725

Medium

Gilded bronze

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1925