netsuke

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Object Type
Museum number: 1945,1017.530
Description: Netsuke. Head of a Nio. Made of Japanese cypress (hinoki) with lacquered eyes. Signed.
Producer name
Cultures/periods
Production date: Early 20th century
Production place: Made in: Kyoto-fu
Materials: wood (Japanese cypress (hinoki)); lacquer
Technique: carved; lacquered
Dimensions: Height: 9.50 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Zwalf 1985 This mask of a Niō, or temple gate guardian, is by an artist who specialised in Buddhist subjects like the following shrine. It was made for the testator.; This arresting netsuke takes the form of the head of a Buddhist Guardian King, a Nio, usually depicted as a pair of statues stationed either side of a temple gate. The netsuke is carved in the form of a maks, and the reverse is hollow. Koseki might have had in mind the imposing Guardian Kings of Todaiji temple in Nara when he carved this head. This is one of two netsuke carved at the request of Oscar Charles Raphael (1874-1941) (please see also 1945,1017.614). (NT 2015)
Bibliographic references: Zwalf 1985 / Buddhism: Art and Faith (370); Barker & Smith 1976 / Netsuke: The Miniature Sculpture of Japan (88); Tsuchiya 2014 / Netsuke: 100 Miniature Masterpieces from Japan (p.101)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: guardian; buddhist deity; mask
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1945
Department: Asia
Registration number: 1945,1017.530

Free entry