Hand guard 1800 - 1900

This is a hand guard by Munemasa Shinoda, it is a small circular iron plate, intricately decorated with metalwork. The dominant feature is a silver snake, its body coiling around the plate's edge, its head raised menacingly above one of the two rectangular openings. These negative spaces, framed in gold, disrupt the plate's surface, while a third aperture in the centre adds to the composition's complexity. The snake motif, in its detailed rendering, introduces a dynamic tension against the plate's static form. Shinoda’s choice of the serpent resonates with its symbolic meanings across cultures. The snake serves as a potent symbol of danger but is also a symbol of transformation and healing. The contrast between the dark iron and the shimmering silver of the snake creates a visual dichotomy that underscores this tension, challenging us to consider the interplay between protection and menace, tradition and innovation. This interplay invites ongoing interpretation.