A Sash of Clouds

Object Details

• Artist

  Obaku Kosen (1633-1695)

• School/Tradition

  Obaku

• Description

  The text of this cursive calligraphic work reads "A Girdle of Clouds." The bold composition stretches a single character, meaning "belt" or "girdle" for nearly the entire length of the scroll, ending in the stylized curve looping to a wave which represents the character "cloud."

• Signatures

  Signature of calligrapher Obaku Kosen appears to the left of the calligraphy.

• Marks

  Seal of calligrapher Obaku Kosen appear to the left of the calligraphy.

• Provenance

  To 1994

  Joseph L. Brotherton, San Francisco, to 1994

  From 1994

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, purchased from Joseph L. Brotherton in 1994

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Faith and Form: Selected Calligraphy and Painting from the Japanese Religious Traditions (March 20 to July 18, 2004)

  Honoring Friends: Recent Gifts by Members of the Freer and Sackler Galleries (June 10 to November 25, 2001)

  Object of the Bi-Month (April 25, 1991 to March 21, 2007)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Joseph L. Brotherton

• Origin

  Kyoto, Kyoto prefecture, Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase -- funds provided by the Friends of Asian Arts

• Type

  Calligraphy

• 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.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

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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, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Brotherton, Joseph L.

• Place

  Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto prefecture

• Topic

  Cursive script, Art, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Calligraphy (visual works)