No costume (choken)

Object Details

• Label

  Actors of the Japanese dance drama, No, wear masks and exquisite costumes to perform on a stage built of unvarnished cypress and decorated only with a painting of a pine tree. Gold is extensively used in No costumes, where it reflects light and highlights the actor's slow, stylized movements. The quality of textiles for No costumes reflects their origin as gifts to actors of personal garments worn by warrior patrons. This jacket would have been worn over a robe of contrasting design, usually for female roles, but also for the roles of courtiers or warriors.

• Provenance

  To 1995

  Takashi Yanagi, Kyoto, to 1995

  From 1995

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, purchased from Takashi Yanagi in 1995

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Gold: The Asian Touch (September 10, 2005 to February 20, 2006)

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Takashi Yanagi

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase -- funds provided by the Friends of Asian Arts and Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program

• Type

  Costume and Textile

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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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

  Takashi, Yanagi

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Gauze, Art, Noh, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Phoenix, Cherry blossom

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Costume, Textiles