seems old. any idea?

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Posted by itemizer
11 years ago
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Description Found this in a storage unit. Appears to be old. Looks like it's casted. Fairly heavy. Any clues?
Category Jewelry and Gemstones
Medium Heavy metal of some sort. Maybe iron
Condition Fair
Size and dimensions of this item Inch 1/2 diameter, 3/8 thick
Weight 10 oz to 16 oz
Price ????
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R
ryanllynch 🌱 Newbie 11 years ago

Possibly an Irokane button! Gold is uncommon on the islands of Japan, so to make what they had go further the Japanese alloyed it with bronze to create a substance called Irokane. It was predominantly used to make the guards on the katanas of samurai, and when the samurai class was abolished during the Meiji Restoration the smiths specializing in Irokane switched over to making buttons for the uniforms of the newly minted professional military officers of the reformed and westernized Japanese military.

The buttons proved to be so lovely that westerners went crazy for them, and in no time the Irokane smiths were making Irokane buttons predominantly for western consumers. This appears to be an example of one, in the later, more westernized style. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to price it, best of luck though!

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