1884.114.78

Collection type

Object

Description

1 of 51 padded fabric covers for Japanese Noh Masks [JN 3/12/2001]

Long description

1 of 51 covers for Japanese Noh Mask (the masks associated with the covers are numbered 1884.114.7 - 58, the covers are numbered 1884.114.59 - 109). All the mask covers are slightly padded and rectangular or square shaped, mostly with rounded corners. It is said that Noh mask covers are made from pieces cut from old Noh theatrical costumes. This particular piece has a front of brown silk with woven gold thread patterning. The back is of plain cream silk. The front is badly shattered [JN 1998]

Geographical reference

Japan

Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan

Cultural groups

Japanese

Person

Maker Unknown Maker

Field collector Unknown Collector

PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection

Date / Period

Date made: Possibly before 1880 Archaeological period: Middle Edo Period, uncertain

Date collected

?Prior to 1880

Acquisition information

Donated: 1884

Materials and processes

Material Silk Textile Animal, Material Yarn Metallic, Material Cotton Textile Plant, Process Woven, Process Stitched

Dimensions

Width: max 182 mm, Length: max 230 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1884.114.78

Research and responses

Originally there was a single entry for 1884.114.59 - 109 but these have now been made into separate entries for each one when Julia Nicholson undertook some research into the mask covers, therefore 1884.114.60 and on can be found towards the end of this file, amongst the 1884.140 entries, find each one by its specific accession number [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998] Covers for the Noh masks (1884.114.7 - 58). These were not entered in PR V until 1947. [JC]

It appears that nearly all the mask covers in this collection are made from silk cloth but have cotton padding. [JN, 1999)

Search terms: Mask, Theatre and Drama, Textile, Mask Cover