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Gain access to this incredible resource through either a monthly or a yearly subscription and search the entire collection from your desktop, compare multiple images side by side and zoom into the minute details of the images. Visit www.davidrumsey.com/amica for more information on the collection, click on the link below the revolving thumbnail to the right, or email us at amica@luna-img.com . Creator Nationality: Asian; Far East Asian; Japanese Creator Dates/Places: Japan Creator Active Place: Japan Creator Name-CRT: Japan, Heian period Title: Votive Plaque (Kakebotoke) with Kannon Image Title Type: Primary View: Full View Creation Start Date: 1100 Creation End Date: 1199 Creation Date: 12th century Object Type: Sculpture Materials and Techniques: bronze, with applied molded image with etched designs Dimensions: Diameter: 52.5cm AMICA Contributor: The Cleveland Museum of Art Owner Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA ID Number: 1985.16 Credit Line: Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund Rights: http://www.clemusart.com/museum/disclaim2.html Context: The interiors of Japanese Buddhist temples focus on the religious statuary linked to the institution's principal deity or historical founder. These sculptures, usually constructed of wood and only modestly adorned, are placed in the central bay of the building within the temple compound set aside for their worship. Raised altar tables stand in front of the primary images, set with offerings of rice and fruit to the deity along with candle holders, oil lamps, and water and incense containers. In front ofthis furniture are low tables, set on the tatami mat floor, for the ritual objects used at each day's services: sutras, bells, candle holder, incense container, and metal gong. Because the bay is often deep and the sculptural image set well back into it,away from sources of natural light, the unpainted wooden columns and beams of the interior architecture reinforce an ambience of solemn dimness amid open interrelated spaces. Over the centuries various types of interior "decorations" were either adopted from Korean and Chinese prototypes or created wholly in Japan to help enliven these spaces where the faithful viewed the devotional statuary. In fact, the open structural system of beams and supports in Buddhist architecture provided ideal locations for attaching or suspending heavenly canopies, colorful textile banners, and an assortment of decorative metalwork. This paraphernalia helped illuminate the hall's interior as well as provide focus for worship. This kakebotoke was originally suspended by brightly colored cords from a wooden beam in a Buddhist worship hall of the late Heian period. It was likely placed on a beam flanking the central icon and was joined by other kakebotoke in identifying the worship bay in front of the main sculptural altar. Originally its polished bronze surface reflected the flickering light of oil and candle flames. But through the centuries of exposure to the elements and wax and oil smoke, the metal surface has acquired the rich blue-and-green patination of age and usage soadmired by the Japanese. The seated figure of the universally benevolent deity, Kannon, sits on a lotus base surrounded by a double halo with flame patterns. These elements have all been cut from a sheet of bronze and delicately hammered into shape usinga wood mold. The surface of the deity's figure and the individual lotus petals have been incised and carefully tooled to provide detailing of form and three-dimensional modeling. Small pins indicate how the image was attached to the disc of the plaque. Molded lion-head attachments provide suspension supports. In construction and style it resembles the splendid metalwork artistry of the Chuson-ji temple in northern Japan, a twelfth-century religious and artistic outpost of distinguished aristocratic patronage. M.R.C. AMICA ID: CMA_.1985.16 AMICA Library Year: 1998 Media Metadata Rights: Copyright, The Cleveland Museum of Art AMICA PUBLIC RIGHTS: a) Access to the materials is granted for personal and non-commercial use. b) A full educational license for non-commercial use is available from Cartography Associates at www.davidrumsey.com/amica/institution_subscribe.html c) Licensed users may continue their examination of additional materials provided by Cartography Associates, and d) commercial rights are available from the rights holder. Home
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