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About the Artwork

The fabled “Mountain of Immortality,” known as Mount Horai, is depicted on this box. It was said to be found somewhere on an island in the East China Sea and endowed with the power to insure immortality. In Japan, this was popular on early lacquer works. When the common Mount Horai imagery of cranes and tortoises frolicking on a rocky shoreline dotted with bamboo and pines was combined with an assortment of insects, birds, and flowers, a very rare and special congratulatory design was created.

Noh Theater Mask Box

17th century

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Japanese

Japanese

Lacquer on wood with maki-e (sprinkled gold powder) and metal fittings

Overall: 10 5/8 × 13 7/8 × 9 5/8 inches (27 × 35.2 × 24.4 cm)

Lacquer

Asian Art

Founders Society Purchase, Ralph Harman Booth Bequest Fund, Abraham Borman Family Fund, Joseph H. Boyer Memorial Fund, Benson and Edith Ford Fund, Henry Ford II Fund and K. T. Keller Fund

1983.38

This work is in the public domain.

Markings

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Provenance

Please note:This section is empty

Provenance is a record of an object's ownership. We are continually researching and updating this information to show a more accurate record and to ensure that this object was ethically and legally obtained.

For more information on provenance and its important function in the museum, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

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Published References

Haino Akio, "Horai Maki-e Men Bako," NIHON SHIKKO, Feb 1983, pp 2-4.

KACHO NO BI, Kyoto National Museum, Kyoto, Oct 5-Nov 14, 1982, p 162, no 204.

DIA BULLETIN, Annual Report 1984, p 22, fig 20.

Mitchell, S., "A portfolio of East Asian lacquers," APOLLO, vol 124, no 298, Dec., 1986, p 76, (ill).

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Japanese, Noh Theater Mask Box, 17th century, Lacquer on wood with maki-e (sprinkled gold powder) and metal fittings. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Ralph Harman Booth Bequest Fund, Abraham Borman Family Fund, Joseph H. Boyer Memorial Fund, Benson and Edith Ford Fund, Henry Ford II Fund and K. T. Keller Fund, 1983.38.

Noh Theater Mask Box
Noh Theater Mask Box