Art Forgotten · Huang Goodman

Art from public museum collections. A mismatched real Japanese law, and some other factoids.

Every object, image and description comes from the museum's own catalogue record, and every object links to its original. Japanese records are machine-translated into English; the museum's Japanese is kept beside the translation because it is the authoritative form. Each law carries its official number and links to e-Gov 法令検索, the Japanese government's statute database.

{緑釉囷 · Maker unrecorded · 後漢（1-2世紀） / Later Han dynasty (1-2 C.) · Japan Search · 国立国会図書館}

Green lacquerware [ 1. The title of this catalog is "Green Lacquerware." 2. This catalog is about a collection of objects that have been lacquered in green. 3. Lacquer is a material made from the sap of the lacquer tree. 4. The process of creating green lacquer involves adding certain substances to the lacquer to change its color. 5. The objects in this collection range from small boxes to large decorative pieces. 6. Each piece has been carefully crafted and then coated multiple times with the green lacquer. 7. The lacquer is then polished to give it a smooth, shiny finish. 8. The green color can vary from a bright, vibrant hue to a more subdued, muted tone. 9. Some pieces have intricate designs or patterns carved into them before being lacquered. 10. Others have simple, clean lines, allowing the beauty of the green lacquer to take center stage. 11. Green lacquerware has been produced in Japan for centuries, making it an important part of the country's cultural heritage. 12. The catalog includes detailed descriptions and photographs of each piece in the collection. 13. It also provides information about the history and techniques of green lacquerware production. 14. This catalog is a must-read for anyone interested in Japanese art, craftsmanship, or history. 15. The collection showcased in this catalog is a testament to the skill and artistry of Japanese lacquerware makers throughout the centuries. 16. Green lacquerware continues to be produced today, making it a living tradition that connects the past with the present. 17. The catalog concludes with a list of resources for those who wish to learn more about green lacquerware or to purchase their own pieces. ] 1. This catalog is called "Green Lacquerware." 2. It features a

A barn is a grain storage facility. There are still such barns in the northern countryside today. They have cylindrical bodies, umbrella-shaped roofs, and pig-shaped feet. During the Han Dynasty, such ceramicware as pigsties, wells, birdhouses, towers, and this type of barn were popular, providing interesting insights into life during that time. This piece is glazed and has a vibrant green color. It dates from the middle Han Dynasty, around the 1st to 2nd century.

囷は穀物倉庫。今日でも華北の農村にはこうした形の穀物倉庫がある。筒形の胴に、傘形の屋根が付く。足は熊形。漢時代の明器には豚舎、井戸、鳥小屋、楼閣、塔、そしてこのような囷などがあり、この時代の生活風景を考えるには興味深い資料である。この作品は作行、緑釉の発色とも鮮やかである。後漢時代中期、1～2世紀の作である。

View the original at Japan Search →

The law

古物営業法

Antique Dealings Act

昭和二十四年法律第百八号 · Act No. 108 of 1949

Article 1 states the purpose plainly: prevent trade in stolen goods, find them quickly, and speed the recovery of victims. Article 2 then defines a used article to include, in the same breath, art objects held for appreciation. Dealing in them requires a licence.

The cool part. Article 16 requires a dealer to record every transaction: the date, the item and quantity, its distinguishing features, and the address, name, occupation and age of the other party. Article 15 requires that a dealer who suspects an item is stolen report it to a police officer immediately. So the antique trade runs on a register the police may read, and a painting becomes a second-hand article the moment it has been used once.

Verify at e-Gov 法令検索 →

Use it Two-colour foil on uncoated stock gets you most of this at production cost.

Description source: museum curator text, translated — not generated