七宝 Shippo / Seven Jewels
"Shippo (seven jewels)" is a series of geometric design combining four ellipses in a circle in a way that the lines inside make more circles. The name is originated from Shippo, which means precious stones in Buddhism. Because inside the circles look shiny, people started to call the pattern Shippo.
"Vivid red color is warmly reflected on the skin of Shamisen, on the hands that play the instrument, and on the spindly book holder made of paulownia carved with Shippo and Hanabishi (flower-shaped diamonds) ." Akutagawa Ryunosuke - An old age (1914)
