Meiji Butterfly Statement Necklace*The Met Store Shop

Art jewelry inspired by The Met collection.

This statement-making necklace is inspired by the mother-of-pearl butterflies decorating a marvelous Japanese box (second half of the 19th century) in The Met’s holdings. Likely reserved for ceremonial tea utensils, the Museum’s Meiji-period treasure—bequeathed by the visionary collector, silversmith, and Tiffany & Co. designer Edward C. Moore (American, 1827–1891)—boasts magnificent craftwork and serves as the most significant example of a Japanese lacquer technique known as maki-e (meaning “sprinkled picture”) in Moore’s expansive collection. Butterflies are beloved subjects in Japanese art, not only for their poetic beauty but for their association with longevity and springtime.  

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