Cleveland Museum of Art · early to mid-1800s
Koto (Zither)
This koto has an elaborately decorated surface, suggesting that it was meant to be admired as a decorative object rather than played as a musical instrument. The vertical design shows a profusion of chrysanthemum flowers and miscanthus grass above a brushwood fence as well as a pair of butterflies.
The koto descended from the guzheng , a Chinese zither first imported to Japan in the seventh century.
| Date | early to mid-1800s |
|---|---|
| Culture / origin | Japan, Edo period (1615–1868) |
| Materials | Wood with colored lacquer, sprinkled gold powder (maki-e), textile, and silk strings |
| Dimensions | Overall: 117.8 cm (46 3/8 in.); Widest end: 23.8 cm (9 3/8 in.) |
| Credit | The Charles G. King Jr. collection; Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King Jr. |
