Hyottoku mask

Object Details

• Description

  14th-15th century Hyottoku mask in Kusunoki (Laurel or Camphor wood) mingei carving with some patina and age. There has been some minute rat nibbling on the mouth of this mask. This mask was probably used to ward off the evil spirits of illness, judging from the knot on its forehead.Small loss on proper right side back edge of the mask.

  Appraiser's number: [82]

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mrs. Selma Janow

• Provenance

  To 2003

  Seymour J. Janow, Washington, DC, acquired in Japan, to 2003 [1]

  From 2003

  Freer Gallery of Art, given by the family of Seymour J. Janow in 2003

  Notes:

  [1] According to Curatorial Note 1, Ann Yonemura, September 30, 2003, in the object record.

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Collected by Seymour J. Janow and gifted in his memory by his family

• Type

  Mask

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1400s, 1300s

• Name

  Janow, Selma

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Kamakura period (1185 - 1333), Art, Muromachi period (1333 - 1573), Japanese Art

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Masks