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Candlestick in the shape of a Western figure, oribe style

UnknownMomoyama period, early 17th century

Suntory Museum of Art

Suntory Museum of Art
Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

His thick eyebrows, large, upturned eyes, and pointed nose present the very picture of a “Southern Barbarian,” or European. His jacket has a chrysanthemum pattern on the collar; he wears baggy trousers called karusan. A spike extends out of the plate on his head, to receive the candle. On his right side, he is equipped with a drawer to hold bits of candlewick. The basket he is holding in his left hand looks like a fishing creel, and the hole in his right hand may have held a fishing rod. It is said that the Southern Barbarian ships were likened to takarabune, ships bearing good fortune, and the Southern Barbarians themselves to the gods of good fortune; this candlestick may thus have been presenting this Southern Barbarian as Ebisu, the god of good fortune associated with fishing.

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  • Title: Candlestick in the shape of a Western figure, oribe style
  • Creator: Unknown
  • Date Created: Momoyama period, early 17th century
  • Location Created: Japan
  • Physical Dimensions: w151 x h306 x d104 cm
  • Object Title (Japanese): 織部南蛮人燭台
  • Object Date (English): Momoyama period, early 17th century
  • Category (Japanese): 陶磁器
  • Artist Name (Japanese): 不明
  • Type: Ceramics
  • Rights: Suntory Museum of Art, Suntory Museum of Art
Suntory Museum of Art

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