No-Kan
Unknown Artist
late 19th century
Medium
Bamboo
Dimensions
L. 40.8 cm (16-1/16 in.), D. +/- 2.5 cm (1 in.)
Classification
Accessory-Toys
Culture
Japanese
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number
89.4.127
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments acquired in 1889 the *No-Kan* is a delicate bamboo artifact from late 19th-century Japan. 40.8 cm in length and about 2.5 cm in, this slender tube exemplifies the simplicity and elegance of Japanese craftsmanship. Crafted from natural bamboo—a material revered in Japanese culture for its versatility, strength, and connection to nature—the *No-Kan* falls under the intriguing classification of "Accessory-Toys" within the Musical Instruments department hinting at its playful yet functional role. In Japanes...