Images(6)

signboard

Object NameDouble-Sided Kanban (shop signboard) for Takami tokei ten (an eyeglass and watch

Made FromWood, Metal, Glass, Paint, Gilding, Lacquer

Dateprobably 1853-1877

TechniqueCarved, painted, gilded, cut

SizeOverall H: 156.5 cm, W: 31 cm, D: 2.8 cm

Accession Number2021.6.3

Curatorial Area(s)

Modern

Exhibitions

Past | Present: Expanding the Stories of Glass

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

By reading the Kanban’s inscriptions, we can identify the glass manufacturer, types of lenses the shop sold, and more (see the gallery wall for a complete translation). But we are left with questions about who made this sign. We know many trades- and crafts-people were involved in creating and installing this Kanban, including: the hangi-gaki who wrote the calligraphy, the Kanban-shi who executed the carving, the shashimoni-shi (wood joiner) who constructed the framework, and the glassmaker who crafted the oversized, convex glass lenses. However, we don’t know their names or identities at this time.

Place Made

Japan

Physical DescriptionDouble-Sided Kanban (shop signboard) for Takami tokei ten (an eyeglass and watch shop). Carved, gilded, and painted wooden board, red lacquer, cut glass lenses, metal. Wooden double-sided kanban (shop signboard) for the "Takami tokeiten" shop (an eyeglass, watch, and clock shop; Takami is the name of the shop owner). This narrow rectangular board is fitted with a metal armature at the top to facilitate hanging perpendicularly outside the shop. Characters are carved identically on both sides, with remains of various colors of paint and gilding in the carvings. "Megane kakushu" ("Variety of Eyeglasses") is the largest inscription on the board. The remaining inscriptions detail that the shop sells both domestically and in the export market; that convex, planar, or concave lenses are available; and that the Takami tokeiten store was the exclusive distributor for Harada manufactured eyeglasses in Osaka. Near the top, two large glass lenses (each 8.5 cm in diameter) are inserted in the board. Originally colorless glass, these now have a purple tint from sun exposure. The lenses are surrounded by a carved and painted image of pince-nez frames, highlighted with gold and red lacquer.
Provenance

Provenance Remark

Provenance information not currently available online. Please check back in the coming weeks.