Japanese art & design: line

Line is used to make all-over decorative pattern and for borders. Objects display a striking variety of patterns made up of straight lines used as: straight lines of different thicknesses; straight lines separated by gaps of varying width; horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines crossing; straight lines crossing to make rectangles; straight lines crossing to make zigzags. A thick outline is often combined with thinner internal lines when depicting people in prints, and flower motifs on objects. This separates the subject from the background and gives solidity and definition to the shape.

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Cloisonné dish, Japan

Dish
Unknown
Nagoya, Japan
1890-1910
Copper body, cloisonné enamel decoration
Diameter 21.6 cm
Museum no. M.208-1917

The copper body of this dish has been decorated with silver wire cloisonné enamel designs on a pure white enamel ground; the rims and foot-ring are of plain burnished copper. The shape, decorative style and colouring of the dish closely copy eighteenth century Japanese Nabeshima-style porcelain which had gained popularity with Westerners in the late nineteenth century. The cloisonné enamel decoration of the dish which consists of geometric patterns with key-fret and stylised waves together with scrolling karakusa (Chinese grass) foliage are all typical of decorative elements found on Nabeshima-ware.

Futon cover, Japan

Futon cover
Japan
19th century
Cotton with rasuri (resist-dyed) decoration
Museum no. T.331-1960

A futon cover with large  white chrysanthemums amongst violent swirling  waves, with four roundels at each corner of formalised  flowers in black, white and grey.

Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Omezo I, Japan

'The Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Omezô I in the Drama "Shibaraku"'
Utagawa Toyokuni (1769-1825)
c.1810
Nishiki-e (brocade print)
Ôban size
Signature: Toyokuni ga
Museum no. E.4829-1886

This is most likely a depiction of a production performed at the Morita-za Theatre in November 1810. In the Meiji period (1868-1912), the script of the play 'Shibaraku' (Wait!) became fixed and the name of the main character was designated as Kamakura no Gongorô Kamemasa. Originally, however, the plot and the characters were created afresh each time it was performed.

Woodblock printed book, Japan

Woodblock printed book
Page from Genji Hinagata
Japan
Late 18th century
Paper
Museum no. E.6961-1916

A page from Genji Hinagata, an epic of medieval Japan.

Netsuke, Japan

Netsuke
Japan
18th century
Carved ivory
Museum no. W.151:2-1922

Carved ivory netsuke in the shape of a bell, symbolising the pure sound of the doctrine of perfect  wisdom.

Kimono, Japan

Kimono
Japan
1870-80
Crepe silk (chirimen), paste-resist decoration (yuzen) and embroidery
Width 129 cm x height 169 cm
Museum no. FE.29-1987

This elegantly patterned kimono celebrates the beauty of textiles through its decoration, which depicts lengths of fabric hung on an elaborate stand and gently fluttering in the breeze surrounded by clouds, fans and falling cherry blossoms. The design was created using a technique called yuzen. This involves drawing the pattern on the cloth with rice paste extruded through the metal tip of a cloth bag. The paste forms a protective coat that prevents the colour penetrating when the dyes are applied. Here the skills of the dyer have been enhanced by those of the embroider, who has highlighted the stand and the edges of the fabrics in gold and added flowers, blossoms and elaborate ties and tassels in pink, white and green.

The Cascade at Kirifuri by Hokusai, Japan

'The Cascade of Kirifuri, near Nikko'
Katsushika Hokusai (1760 - 1849)
Japan
19th century
Woodblock print on paper
Museum no. E.653-1901

A view of the falls near Nikko.

Book of illustrated prints, Japan

Book of illustrated prints
Designs by Korin
Copy by Hoitsu
Japan
1826
Museum no. E.2923-1925

Pages from an illustrated book of Japanese prints;  with a print on each page; left - a seascape with a  raging sea, and a rocky cliff, with a small rocky island  which has a knarled tree growing on it, signature on  the left. Right is another seacape with a stormy sea  with cliffs.

Scroll box & cover or jikubako, Japan

Scroll box and cover (jikubako)
Japan
c.1650
Lacquered wood
Museum no. 701-1901

Scroll box and cover (jikubako) in black lacquer with gold hiromaki-e lacquer and silver metal  fittings, with a pattern of waves on cream background