Model human
Hananuma
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
Unknown
Materials
Wood, Paint
Measurements
510 mm (Height)
Place of origin
Japan
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire (Accredited Museum)
NT 1338023.1
Caption
In the middle of the 19th century Japan began to welcome foreigners back into the country for the first time in 241 years and by the end of the century there was a growing interest in collecting Japanese items.
Summary
Carved and painted wooden figure of a Japanese mask maker screwed from below onto a wooden platform. He is wearing a loincloth. He holds a miniature mask in left hand. Signed HANANUMA. Around him a three-drawer cabinet, top drawer out, contains five wooden handled tools; a block with tree effect scratched on top, carved on front with Japanese characters, a mask, two wooden handled tools and two pieces of grooved wood on top; a wooden crate, open top, with a mallet and some blocks of wood; a brown and white striped robe; five wooden handled tools; a black handled knife; a wooden board with a black stone and a miniature brush.The platform is on four legs carved as tree trunks, with bamboo stretchers. All in a glass case. on a base with a floral design fretwork panel between feet each side, standing on a purpose built (NT) black four legged stand. In notebook no.6, page 7 (1340945.6) Charles Wade refers to: 'The Blue Room 88. Carved Wood Figure (in Japanese case) of the wood carver. Very highly skilled piece of craftsmanship finished in natural colours, showing even the veins & eyelashes. Signed (Japanese characters) HANANUMA.'
Provenance
CPW item 88 Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
Marks and inscriptions
HANANUMA
Makers and roles
Hananuma
References
Wade, 1946: Charles Paget Wade, Contents of Snowshill Manor. Volume 6 The Blue Room, 1946, page 21