Mask Item Number: Ed5.2873 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Small lion head mask (part a) with gold tuft of hair on top of head, white hair fringe over eyes, gold eyes with black eyeballs, red nostrils, and gold teeth. Lower jaw operated on wooden peg. Red tongue. Ears attached with pegs. Part b is a yellow cotton bag.
History Of Use
Used to scare off evil demons; in Buddhist tradition lion protects temples from malignant spirits. Lion masks also appear local festivals and at new year's. Boys wearing lion masks go from house to house offering to drive out evil for small sum of money.
Narrative
Part of the Miss Jessie M. Miller Collection. Miss Miller was a teaching evangelist for the Anglican Church of Canada.
Item History
- Made in Japan
- Collected between 1935 and 1968
- Owned by Jessie M. Miller
- Owned by Donovan F. Miller, Dorothy W. Miller and Mrs. Donovan F. Miller before November 9, 1977
- Received from Donovan F. Miller (Donor), Mrs. Donovan F. Miller (Donor) and Dorothy W. Miller (Donor) on November 9, 1977
What
Who
- Culture
- Japanese
- Previous Owner
- Jessie M. Miller, Donovan F. Miller, Dorothy W. Miller and Mrs. Donovan F. Miller
- Received from
- Donovan F. Miller (Donor), Mrs. Donovan F. Miller (Donor) and Dorothy W. Miller (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Japan
When
- Collection Date
- between 1935 and 1968
- Ownership Date
- before November 9, 1977
- Acquisition Date
- on November 9, 1977
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0422/0082 c-d