figure
- Museum number
- 1950,1025.1
- Description
-
Figure. Head from large sculpture of Amida Buddha. Made of wood in the 'yosegi-zukuri' (joined) technique, formerly covered with gesso and painted, the face once lacquered and gilded.
- Production date
- 14thC-15thC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 100 centimetres
-
Width: 60.50 centimetres
-
Depth: 55.50 centimetres
- Curator's comments
-
Published in William Cohn, "Ein Buddha Kopf der Fujiwara-Zeit", Ostasiatische Zeitschrift N.F., vol. VII (1930), pp.1-2.
Basil Gray, "A Great Japanese Wood Carving", The Burlington Magazine, vol. 93, no. 577 (Apr. 1951), pp. 105-107 .
-
Smith et al 1990
Presumably the head is that of a standing figure of Amida which would have been many metres in height, and perhaps accompanied by the bodhisattvas Kannon and Seishi on a slightly smaller scale.
-
Zwalf 1985
From a considerably over life-size figure, probably seated, this head has an unusually long face and marked emotional individuality of expression.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2006 18 Mar-4 Jun, Beijing, Capital Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2007 3 Feb-27 May, Taipei, National Palace Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2007 14 Sep-2 Dec, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2009 1 May-20 Sep, Victoria, Royal BC Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2009 11 Dec-2010 10 May, Madrid, Canal de Isabel II, Treasures of the World's Cultures
- Acquisition date
- 1950
- Acquisition notes
- Obtained by Wilhelm Solf when serving as German ambassador to Japan (1920-28); at one time on loan to the Far Eastern Dept of the Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum [Bode Museum] in Berlin.
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 1950,1025.1