Ghost

Maker Japanese Artist

DateEdo Period, 18th - early 19th century

Place of originJapan

MediumBurl wood

Dimensions5 1/8 x 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. (13 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm)

ClassificationsSculpture

Credit LineMuseum purchase, funds provided by the Robert H. and Kathleen M. Axline Acquisition Endowment

Object number2012.31

Collections

ASIAN

Visual DescriptionOkimono or sculpture in the form of a ghost emerging from an old weathered section of wood, the eyes and face carved and detailed in gofun or white clam shell gesso and sumi ink.

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Byöbu or folding screen in two panels, painted on paper in mineral pigments, gofun or clam shell gesso, and sumi ink with an autumn scene of deer on the beach below the Itsukushima shrine.

Autumn at Itsukushima (Island)

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Doi Soju

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Female Ghost

Sasaki Bizan

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Pair of carved and weathered wood guardian oni or demon masks.

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Japanese Artist

Nambokucho period (1333-1392), 14th century

Cylindrical form wrapped with fiber, and hair and long braided strands on top. Glass or plastic bead strands on top and neck (yellow and blue beads) and wood or other brown beads (?) encircling form. Entire form is covered with red ochre

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Carved and painted wood sculpture: quadruped with glass eyes, and plastic pom-pom tail, covered with polychrome dots of paint and glitter. Signed with initials on back of head, lefthand side. The base is a painted wood plank.

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Helmet mask depicting a composite boar and bird, made of wood and rattan, lined with cloth. The face has intricate openwork carving and is painted with fine lines in red, and black pigments over a white ground. A ruff of coconut fibers encircling back of head and fringe on chin. Snout of warthog has a bird with long bill, which is broken and glued together. Eyes of warthog and bird are made of snail shells (opercula). Trade cloth liner is made of two pieces of different floral patterns.

Boar Mask

Papua New Guinea

early-mid 20th century

Traditional elongated facial mask with long nose pierced at septum with boar tusk extending to chin where bird protrudes down. Face surrounded by shells embedded in clay. Shells on nose extension. Human hair at top of head beneath plaited raffia loop for hanging. Small inset shells for eyes underneath carved protruding brows. Dark stain. Painted traditional designs.

Mai Mask

Iatmul

20th century

Carved wood face with extended brow, large nose, conical eyes and crescent mouth atop post. Back of head has hooks on spines reminiscent of crocodile spines. High forehead topped with small knot and V.

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20th century

Found wood carved in form of a reptilian creature with large ears, protruding teeth, long tail, a dorsal crest and talons. Body is covered with red glossy paint and small light-colored dots, snout is yellow, eyes are inset blue glass disks. Signed "OL" in black on right flank.

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undated