Line

  • Cloisonné dish, Japan

    Cloisonné dish, Japan, 19th century. Museum no. M.208-1917

    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. Museum no. T.331-1960

    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

    Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Omezo I, Japan, c.1810. Museum no. E.4829-1886

    '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, Japan, 18th century. Museum no. E.6961-1916

    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. Museum no. W.151:2-1922

    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, 1870-1880. Museum no. FE.29-1987

    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 at Kirifuri by Hokusai, Japan, 1760-1849. Museum no. E.653-1901

    '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, Japan, 1826. Museum no. E.2923-1925

    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 & cover or jikubako, Japan, c.1650. Museum no. 701-1901

    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