METAL INDUSTRY. 439 



covered with light yellow gold ; the rest of the leaves and tendrils 

 with dark yellow, the blossoms with silver, Shibu-ichi and copper. 

 On one side of the rivulet may be seen a blooming dandelion 

 whose leaves are inlaid with light gold and the blossoms of dark 

 gold. The whole has a wonderful effect, full of life and force. 



The following are the most prominent of the numerous copper 

 alloys (Maze-gane), which have to be considered in Japanese Art 

 Industry. 



1. Shin-chiu, brass. This contains usually thirty per cent, of 

 zinc to seventy per cent, of copper. 



2. Kara-kane (literally China-metal), bronze. Bronze is under- 



Fig. 17. — COVER OF THE BOX, WITH INLAID WORK AND CHASING. 



stood now-a-days to indicate the many different alloys of copper 

 with tin, with tin and zinc, with tin, zinc, and lead, to which anti- 

 mony may sometimes be added, but in all of which copper is 

 predominant. These bronzes serve many different purposes, and 

 are employed both in art and for practical objects. 



3. Shibu-ichi, an alloy of copper and silver, in which the latter 

 varies from 6 to 32 per cent. 



4. Shaku-do, copper, in which from 2 to 5 per cent, of gold is 

 mixed. 



Besides the common brass that is used for wash-dishes, fire-pans, 

 hoops around large rice bowls, bindings of chests and several other 

 purposes, an alloy is prepared, by the name of K6-d6, of both 



