Mask

Object Details

• Label

  This mask represents a demon (oni). It probably was used in tsuina (or oni yarai), a ritual exorcism performed on the night before the New Year to drive out demons. The eyes once may have been covered with gilt metal to create a gleaming, fearsome appearance.

• Provenance

  To 1905

  Mme. Florine Langweil (1861-1958), Paris, to 1905 [1]

  From 1905 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Mme. Florine Langweil in 1905 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Miscellaneous List, S.I. 1208, pg. 280, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Religious Art of Japan (December 18, 2002 to January 4, 2015)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mme. Florine Langweil (1861-1958) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Mask

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1860s, 1670s, 1660s

• Name

  Langweil, Florine, Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Wood, Demon, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Masks