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Decorative Arts of Ryukyu

  • Image of "Headwear for Prince, Second Sho Dynasty, Ryukyu Kingdom, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Higa Kamato, On exhibit through August 19, 2012)"

    Headwear for Prince, Second Sho Dynasty, Ryukyu Kingdom, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Higa Kamato, On exhibit through August 19, 2012)

    Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 15
    July 10, 2012 (Tue) - September 30, 2012 (Sun)

    The Tokyo National Museum's collection of ethnological materials from Okinawa is mainly comprised of objects purchased by the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce from Okinawa prefecture in 1884. In 1882, the German Anthropological Society asked the Ministry to collect Okinawan ethnological objects as reference materials for study. Objects which were not collected in time to send to Germany and spare samples were sent to Tokyo and transferred to this museum.

    Because many cultural properties, including ethnological objects, were destroyed in Okinawa prefecture during World War II, the Tokyo National Museum's collection is one of the oldest ethnological collections of Okinawan objects in existence.

    Of special note are materials related to the noro (ritual officers) of Yamato-mura, Amami-oshima Island, which were donated by Ms. Yamato Ryoko in 1998. Formerly in the care of Mrs. Osada Suma, a researcher of the Amami dialect, they are important for the study of Okinawan culture.

    This display features examples of decorative art from Okinawa, including metalwork, colorful textiles, ceramics showing various influences, lacquerware showing Chinese influences, and jade objects thought to have been used by noro.

Major works in this exhibition
* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Headwear for Prince, Second Sho Dynasty, Ryukyu Kingdom, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Higa Kamato)
Ritual Bead Necklace, Amami Oshima Island, Second Sho Dynasty, Ryukyu Kingdom, 19th century (Gift of Ms. Yamato Ryoko)
Dress, Bamboo, crane, and plum design in bingata stencil dyeing on white ramie, Okinawa Main Island, Second Sho Dynasty, Ryukyu Kingdom, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Kamakura Yoshitaro)
Dress, Stream, chrysanthemum, reed, and wild goose design in bingata stencil dyeing on light blue ground, Okinawa Main Island, Second Sho Dynasty, Ryukyu Kingdom, 19th century
Hair Ornament for an Amushirare (Ritual officer), Amami Oshima Island, Second Sho Dynasty, Ryukyu Kingdom, 18th century (Gift of Ms. Yamato Ryoko)
Covered Food Box, Figure under tree design in mother-of-pearl inlay and in chinkin (gilded hair-line engraving), Okinawa Main Island, Second Sho Dynasty, Ryukyu Kingdom, 18th century
Food Box, Birds and flower design in mother-of-pearl inlay, Ryukyu, Second Sho Dynasty, Ryukyu Kingdom, 18th century