Tekagami, album with segments of calligraphy

Folded book with cloth covers comprising more than 100 segments of decorated and plain paper inscribed with texts—mostly sections of traditional poetry and Buddhist scriptures—written in the hands of illustrious calligraphers and historical figures. As customary of tekagami 手鑑 (mirror of exemplary handwritings), and each segment of text is paired with a separate label which identifies the calligrapher’s name.

View right to left

Maker(s)
Author: Karasumaru Mitsuei (1688-1748)
Historical period(s)
calligraphies, 8th-18th century; compilation, 18th-19th century
Medium
Ink, pigments, gold and silver on paper
Dimensions
H x W x D (Mounting): 37.7 × 28.8 × 5.2 cm (14 7/8 × 11 5/16 × 2 1/16 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Gift of Alan Kennedy in honor of Louise Cort
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Study Collection
Accession Number
FSC-MS-48
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Album, Calligraphy
Type

Album

Keywords
Japan
Provenance

From 1980s to 2019
Alan Kennedy, Los Angeles, California, purchased in Tokyo in the mid-1980s [1]

From 2019
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Alan Kennedy, Los Angeles California [2]

Notes:

[1] According to information provided by the donor, he purchased the album in the mid-1980s in Tokyo, Japan. See Curatorial Remark 1, object record, Collections Management Office.

[2] See Deed of Gift, object file, Collections Management Office.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Alan Kennedy

Description

Folded book with cloth covers comprising more than 100 segments of decorated and plain paper inscribed with texts—mostly sections of traditional poetry and Buddhist scriptures—written in the hands of illustrious calligraphers and historical figures. As customary of tekagami 手鑑 (mirror of exemplary handwritings), and each segment of text is paired with a separate label which identifies the calligrapher’s name.

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use