KANO TESSAI: A CIRCULAR HANGING TRAY OF A BUGAKU MASK OF RANRYO-O

By Kano Tessai (1845-1925), signed Tessai and kakihan
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) to Taisho period (1912-1926)

The flat well of the tray applied to depict a finely carved Bugaku mask of Ryo-o, modeled after a treasured mask at the Horyuji Temple, Nara. The golden mask boldly rendered holding a ferocious expression with furrowed brow, bulging eyes, and protruding nose. The dangling chin-cup, knotted with a short red cord, reveals its black teeth. The eyebrows, mustache and goatee rendered with inlaid tufts of white horsehair. A fierce dragon perched on its head with the chest raised, the muscular and scaly body finely painted in reddish and greenish tones with golden accents.

A silk string for wall suspension is tied around three eyelets to the back of the tray.

Inscribed by Kano Tessai on the frame: Horyuji juho Ryoo-men, Kasuga sanroku Saisho Shoja Bohoken nite mosu, TESSAI [copied from a treasured mask of Ranryo-o which is at the Horyuji Temple (Nara), copied at the Bohoken, Saishoji Studio, located at the foot of Mount Kasuga, by Tessai]. Also inscribed on the back of the frame: Kasuga-sha no go-shinboku o motte tsukuru kore, TESSAI [this is made by the sacred wood timber originally sourced from the Kasuga Shrine, Nara, made by Tessai] and with the artist’s kakihan monogram.

The wood tomobako with the inscription on the cover: Ryoo-men zugaku [the hanging mask of Ranryo-o].

LENGTH 33.7 cm

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and natural imperfections, small nicks and chips to the border and some rubbing to the lacquer.
Provenance: Collection of Drs. Edmund and Julia Lewis, Chicago, Illinois, United States. Drs. Edmund Jean and Julia Breyer Lewis are renowned experts in nephrology who met professionally and later married in 1997, and have since continued to collect art together, actively seeking the best they could find from the finest dealers in the field. Known for their keen scholarship and high aesthetic standards, for the past three decades Ed and Julie have focused on collecting lacquer art, painting, and Buddhist sculpture from Japan. As they traveled widely their desire to collect Buddhist art grew, and they have expanded their collection to include important Pan-religious sculpture from Greater Asia.

The bugaku mask of Ranryo-o represents the Dragon King, a figure originating in a Chinese legend. One of the four most handsome men in Chinese history, Prince Ranryo (in Chinese, Lanling) wore a fearsome mask to hide his face when he led his troops into battle. The dance created by his followers in honor of their brave commander was later introduced to Japan and is thought to have become part of the classical Bugaku repertoire by the second half of the eighth century.

Kano Tessai (1845-1925) was born in Gifu prefecture. At an early age he was sent to study painting and calligraphy at several Buddhist temples. Upon the Meiji restoration in 1868, Tessai decided to leave the priesthood and devote his life to studying famous artifacts in the temple collections throughout Japan and the techniques used in their making. Through this he became familiar with the vast collections of masks housed in temples such as Todaiji and Horyuji in Nara, which became the inspiration for most of his work. He also accompanied Ernest Fenellosa on his survey of temples around Kyoto and Nara. He was present during the opening of the Yumedono at Horyuji when the Kudara Kannon was revealed to the world in 1884 for the first time in many years. In 1887 Tessai was appointed professor in the Department of Sculpture of the newly established Tokyo Art School, but he resigned shortly thereafter to return to his life as an artist. Tessai's principal works included netsuke, pipecases, models of religious artifacts and accessories for tea gatherings.

Auction comparison:
Compare a related circular lacquer tray, also signed by Kano Tessai and dated to the early 20th century, 21.3 cm long, at Zacke, Fine Japanese Art, 28 October 2020, Vienna, lot 137 (sold for EUR 2,275).