neglus
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posted on May 10, 2007 06:37:35 AM
I have this lovely Japanese postcard dated 1910/Yokohama. Can anyone shed some light on the bough the mother is carrying wiht the masks? Is this an actress? Thanks in advance.
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tomwiii
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posted on May 10, 2007 11:06:10 AM
Are you sure this is Japanese?
Ralphie notes the ears, and, thus, the child must be Vulcan...
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sthoemke
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posted on May 10, 2007 12:22:04 PM
I would guess Mongolian or Korean.
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roadsmith
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posted on May 10, 2007 12:47:14 PM
The branch would be easier to ID if you could enlarge just the branch and post it here. From a distance, it resembles willow.
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
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neglus
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posted on May 10, 2007 12:54:31 PM
I think the branch is bamboo - I am curious about the masks on it and correlation with the scene (if there is one). I was hopeful that the Japanese characters would explain it. I am pretty sure the card is Japanese because the message on back says "Yokohama" 1910.
We certainly don't have to wonder why the mother has her ears covered! Poor baby!
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vintageads4u
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posted on May 10, 2007 01:17:42 PM
In the Toka Ebisa festival a bamboo branch is decorated with masks which represent properity, health, etc.
This could be lucky ornament called fuku-dawara which can be literally translated as "lucky straw-bag." Actually in this case it is a bamboo branch decorated with luck-bringing ornaments.
She could be a shrine maiden. That might not be a real child but a large doll?
It is lovely
Beth
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[ edited by vintageads4u on May 10, 2007 01:18 PM ]
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neglus
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posted on May 10, 2007 01:58:34 PM
Thanks Beth - that makes sense! I thought that baby looked a little "odd" (as Tom pointed out - Vulcanese) - probably is some kind of doll.
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buyhigh
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posted on May 10, 2007 02:58:17 PM
I do know that they are copies of Japanese theatre masks. The 2 on the outside are Kyogen masks of Oto (fat face)and the fire blower (forgot his name)whom she is usually paired with in the comic interludes between Noh theatre acts. The center one is Daikoku the god of wealth and farmers I think. All the performers in these dramas were men. They played female parts as well as male. The baby looks like a doll. Perhaps the lady was selling these objects at a festival of some sort.
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buyhigh
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posted on May 10, 2007 02:59:41 PM
PS Oto is the goddess of mirth by the way.
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neglus
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posted on May 10, 2007 03:24:13 PM
Do you think perhaps the lady is a man?
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buyhigh
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posted on May 10, 2007 04:11:30 PM
Hard to say except the masks look too small to be worn. Interesting that the lady wears no footwear. Wonder if that means she came from one of the poorer classes.
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mcjane
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posted on May 10, 2007 07:51:23 PM
You guys amaze me with your knowledge.
No matter what is posted someone, in fact many, always comes up with a factual answer.
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tomwiii
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posted on May 10, 2007 08:07:31 PM
Live long, and prosper...
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neglus
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posted on May 10, 2007 08:09:02 PM
Thanks for the help. I went with a "fuku-musume" (As Beth advised, a maiden who hands out good luck bamboo branches at the Toka Ebisu festival).
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buyhigh
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posted on May 10, 2007 09:15:48 PM
Just remembered. Oto is also called Otofuko and the fire blower is Hyotoko ( both Kyogin masks) but check the spelling. Google would be a good source.
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