The Beauty of Auspicious Motifs: Scattered Fan Design
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Tebako (Cosmetic box), Scattered fan design in maki-e lacquer, Muromachi period, 15th century (Important Cultural Property)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 14
January 2, 2016 (Sat) - February 28, 2016 (Sun)In connection with the New Year season, this exhibition features works with “scattered fan” designs, giving special attention to the auspicious nature of these designs and the diverse paintings that decorate each of their fans. The fans in scattered fan designs have different shapes and are decorated with various paintings, qualities which made these designs interesting to the Japanese. In particular, there are a number of fine cosmetic boxes, which were used to keep cosmetics and other miscellaneous objects for everyday use, that feature scattered fan designs in maki-e lacquer.
We invite visitors to view these designs not only as auspicious decorations, but also to enjoy the individual paintings on each of their fans.
Current exhibit includes:
Tebako (Cosmetic box), Scattered fan design in maki-e lacquer, Kamakura-Nanbokucho period, 14th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by the OKURA MUSEUM OF ART)
Tebako (Cosmetic box), Scattered fan design in maki-e lacquer, Muromachi period, 15th century (Important Cultural Property)
Mirror, Scattered fan design, Nanbokucho period, 14th century
Kosode (Garment with small wrist openings), Young pine, cherry blossom, and curtain design on white figured satin ground, Edo period, 18th century