Motifs and Symbols: Natural Features

natural, features, japan, art, design

  • Robe, Japan

    Robe, Japan, 19th century. Museum no. T.49-1915

    Robe
    Japan
    19th century
    Silk brocade
    Museum no. T.49-1915

    Robe with a design of stylised clouds in a regular pattern on old gold with a black background.

  • Woodblock print, Japan. Museum no. E.12065-1886

    Woodblock print, Japan. Museum no. E.12065-1886

    Fan print
    Japan
    c. 1850
    Woodblock print
    Museum no. E.12065-1886

    Woodblock print showing mountainous views.

     

  • 'The Great Wave' by Katsushika Hokusai, Japan

    'The Great Wave' by Katsushika Hokusai, Japan, 1858. Museum no. E.4823-1916

    'The Great Wave'
    Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)
    Japan
    1858
    Colour woodblock print
    Museum no. E.4823-1916

    'The Great Wave : Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji - In the hollow of a wave off the coast at Kanagawa'.  A huge falling wave on the left, with the tiny cone of Mount Fuji seen in the  trough of the wave, centre, three long rowing boats battling the stormy seas

  • Vase, Japan

    Vase, Japan, c.1800-1875. Museum no. 85-1876

    Vase
    Japan
    c.1800 - 1875
    Bronze
    Museum no. 85-1876

    Cylindrical vase with stand with overlapping foaming sea waves decoration.

  • Kimono, Japan

    Kimono, Japan, late 19th century. Museum no. T.72-1957

    Kimono
    Japan
    Late 19th century
    Satin silk, silk embroidery
    Museum no. T.72-1957

    Detail of a Kimono showing a dragon flying across Mount Fuji. Satin silk with silk embroidery in white, gold, (fumeroles and  dragon`s breath), on a brilliant red ground.

  • Tanto, Japan

    Tanto, Japan, early 18th century. Museum no. M.20:1-1947

    Robe
    Japan
    Early 18th century (with 16th century fittings)
    Steel, lacquer, silver
    Museum no. M.20:1-1947

    Sword (tanto) mounted in wooden scabbard with  hiramaki-e decoration of dark matt and aogi lacquer on a  dark red ground with silver mounts in the theme of Fuden and Raiden. The band (signed Kanefusa - 16th century) has a cloud motif and two  pairs of demons.

  • Buddhist Priest's Mantle (Kesa), 18th or 19th century. Museum no. T.91-1913

    Buddhist Priest's Mantle (Kesa), 18th or 19th century. Museum no. T.91-1913

    Buddhist priest's mantle (or kesa)
    Japan
    18th or 19th century
    Silk brocade
    Museum no. T.91-1913

    Buddhist Priest`s Mantle or Kesa; tapestry weave with pictures of birds (peacocks, herons, storks and doves); a woman with birds feet, flying through a stylised  coloured sky of yellow, with clouds of blue, green,  brown, orange & red. Below is a stylised  representation of a foaming sea (blue and white semi-circles) and rocks. The design also includes six orange squares with three yellow edged green circles.

  • Tateyama: Famous places in all the provinces by Toto-ya Hokkei, Japan. Museum no. E.574-1899

    Tateyama: Famous places in all the provinces by Toto-ya Hokkei, Japan. Museum no. E.574-1899

    Tateyama: Famous places in all the provinces
    Toto-ya Hokkei
    Japan
    Woodblock print
    Museum no. E.574-1899

    Woodblock print showing the mountainous views at Tateyama.

     

  • 'The sea at Satta in Suruga Province' by Utagawa Hiroshige, Japan

    'The sea at Satta in Suruga Province' by Utagawa Hiroshige, Japan, 1858. Museum no. E.1275-1922

    The Sea at Satta in Suruga Province
    Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)
    Japan
    Published by Tsutaya Jûzaburô, Edo, 1858
    Woodblock print in colour
    Museum no. E.1275-1922

    The sea at Satta in Suruga Province showing a high, foaming wave breaking through a narrow rocky cove with a volcano in the  background.