1920.16.18.1

Collection type

Object

Description

Lacquer shrine case on a pedestal, displaying figures of deities in passive and angry stances. For the figures see 1920.16.18 .3 - .14 and for the shrine pedestal see 1920.16.18 .2. [RH [OPS move] 1/9/2017]

Long description

Lacquer shrine case on a pedestal, displaying figures of deities in passive and malevolent stances. The shrine has two double hinged front doors, with brass decorative panels. The top and bottom rims of the shrine have brass decorative bands front and back. In the centre at the top is a carved pediment with a gilded figure. Inside, the walls of the shrine are gilded. There are three gilded platforms, the bottom one with a red lacquer edge. The top platform has an ornate 'altar' with two seated figures on top of lotus flowers. Around the top of the inside is a handing brass band with a central decorative openwork drop. There are spaces for 11 figures. For the figures see 1920.16.18 .3 - .14 and for the shrine pedestal see 1920.16.18 .2. [RH [OPS move] 1/9/2017]

Geographical reference

Japan

Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan

Person

Field collector J. Cole Hartland

PRM source Edwin Sidney Hartland

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1920

Date collected

By 1920

Acquisition information

Donated: 1920

Materials and processes

Material Wood Plant, Material Lacquer Varnish, Material Brass Metal, Process Lacquered Varnished, Process Gilded, Process Incised, Process Cast, Process Nailed, Process Bent, Process Openwork

Dimensions

Height: max 420 mm total, Height: max 420 mm, Height: max 580 mm, Height: max 730 mm total, Width: max 562 mm total, Width: max 562 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1920.16.18.1

Research and responses

Note that some of the Japanese items are marked as being obtained by J. Cole Hartland and donated via his brother Edwin Sidney. It seems hard to believe that the other items from Japan were not also obtained by J. Cole Hartland. Note that there is no evidence to date that Edwin Sidney Hartland ever visited Japan [AP 16/2/2009]

In Mahayana Buddhism, increased devotion to the Buddha became elaborated as a belief in many celestial beings, notably Amitabha and Avalokiteshvara (Kwannon). Shingon esotericism is a part of Vajrayana, or Tantric Buddhism, however, in Japan the doctrine was much modified and systematized by the great religious leader Kukai, known posthumously as Kobo Daishi, one of the best-known Buddhist saints in Japan. [Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica [MR 23/2/2000]

Search terms: Religion, Figure, Furniture Dwelling, Shrine, Religious Object