Mid-Century Japanese Renjishi Shadow Box

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This shadow box houses a depiction of Renjishi or father and son lions in the centuries-old Japanese oshie craft. Oshie … Read more This shadow box houses a depiction of Renjishi or father and son lions in the centuries-old Japanese oshie craft. Oshie means pressed paper and dates back to 19th Century Japan's Edo Period. Bits of printed paper are carefully selected and glued together to create oshie crafts. The dyed paper is distinctively folded to create a billowy scene of layered pattern and texture. The faces are also intricately painted by hand. A metallic gold background echoes the gold-trimmed mat and frame. This work has a red signature on the bottom right. The back includes a stamp from Sekai-do, a Japanese art shop in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The frame brackets on the back are loose and there is small evidence of wear on the overall shadow box.

Renjishi are mythical beasts of Buddhist origin, displayed in fierce grandeur, the father in white and the son in red. Renjishi was first performed in 1861 as a private dance recital in Edo. The dance made its way onto the kabuki stage in 1872 at the Murayama-za, the premier kabuki theatre in Tokyo at the time. The popular tale is still performed today, notably at the opening ceremony for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. See less