Insignia and Button
Unknown Artist
late 19th century
Medium
White triangular ribbon with yellow stripes
Dimensions
a: 3 × 1 1/2 in. (7.6 × 3.8 cm) b: 1/2 × 1 in. (1.3 × 2.5 cm)
Classification
Medals
Culture & Period
Japan · Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Edward D. Adams and Jacob H. Schiff, 1906
Accession Number
06.442a, b
Art Historical Context
This delicate insignia and button from late 19th-century Japan the refined craftsmanship of the Meiji period (1868–1912), a transformative era when the nation modernized rapidly while blending traditional aesthetics with Western influences. Crafted as a medal, the piece consists of a white triangular ribbon accented by crisp yellow stripes (3 × 1½ in. or 7.6 × 3.8 cm) paired with a small button (½ × 1 in. or 1.3 × .5 cm). Such were often worn as symbols of rank, achievement, or affiliation, reflecting Japan's evolving military and imperial structures amid global expansion. The simplicity of t...