Crane Hair Ornament

Two Cranes Hair Ornament
Created; Japan, Meiji era, c. 1895
Medium: Silk thread-work over wire, with brass pin.
Dimensions: 17.5 cm.

This is a woman’s hair ornament depicting two crane birds in a pine tree. One of a number of small hair ornaments, kanzashi, which was purchased by the Harris family in November 1897 while visiting Japan.[26] Each shows the beauty of the natural world in flower, butterfly or bird motifs and was meant to be worn to embellish a Japanese woman’s elaborate hair style.