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Pitt Rivers Museum

1909.32.10

Lantern made from the skin of a pufferfish (fugu). [HA 11/02/2015]

On display


1909.32.10

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Lantern made from the skin of a pufferfish (fugu). [HA 11/02/2015]
Geographical reference
Enoshima
Cultural groups
Japanese
Person
Field collector Miss E.C. Bell
PRM source Miss E.C. Bell
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1909
Date collected
1908 - 1909
Acquisition information
Donated: 1909
Materials and processes
Material Fish Skin
Dimensions
Height: max 145 mm including handle
Object numbers
Accession number: 1909.32.10
Research and responses

Originally described as a parrot fish. '?tetiodon' in the accession book entry is more likely to be 'tetraodon' - a genus in the pufferfish family (Tetraodontidae). This object has neither the colours nor scale pattern of any of the parrotfish species. In Japan, pufferfish are called 'fugu' (a delicacy and poisonous unless prepared properly). [HA 11/02/2015]

Associated publications
Published as a PRM postcard (no. 121), with the caption: 'Lantern made from the skin of a parrot fish. Japan, Enoshima (1909.32.10).' [JC 27 8 2004] Illustrated in colour on page 10 of Pitt Rivers Museum: An Introduction, by Julia Cousins (Oxford: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, 2004). Caption (same page) reads: 'Lantern made of the inflated skin of a parrot fish, from Enoshima, Japan.' [JC 8 10 2004]

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