The Bureau for the Temporary National Survey of Treasures: Researching Artifacts in Late 19th Century Japan
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Red and White Cotton Roses (detail), By Li Di, Southern Song dynasty, dated 1197 (National Treasure, On exhibit through January 9, 2017)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 15
December 20, 2016 (Tue) - February 19, 2017 (Sun)The “Temporary National Survey of Treasures Bureau,” established in 1888 (Meiji 21), dispatched researchers across the country to conduct appraisals and registration of art objects. After the survey concluded, the remaining affairs and materials were transferred to the then Imperial Museum, which is now the Tokyo National Museum.
This exhibition introduces the activities of the bureau which continued for 10 years and which the museum inherited, by looking at the documented materials with artworks that were surveyed.
Current exhibit includes:
Red and White Cotton Roses, By Li Di, Southern Song dynasty, dated 1197 (National Treasure, On exhibit through January 9, 2017)
Detailed Catalogue of Artifacts in the Tokyo District Volume 2, Meiji era, 19th century (Important Cultural Property, On exhibit through January 9, 2017)
Certificate of Appraisal, Red and White cotton Roses, March 17, 1893 (On exhibit through January 9, 2017)
Registry of Appraisals by Numbers, 5744-7450, Meiji era, 19th century (Important Cultural Property, On exhibit through January 9, 2017)
Letter, By Shibayama Nobutoyo (1612-90), Edo period, dated 1664 (Gift of Mrs. Tsuishu Tsuruko)
References for Categorizing Materials, Compiled by the Artifact Appraisal Department, 1899 (Important Cultural Property)