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This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Small box (part a) of paper noshi awabi (stretched abalone) offerings. Each noshi consists of folded paper, white on one side and red on the other, with a strip of dried abalone down the centre. There are three bundles (parts b-d), and five loose offerings (parts e-i). The open box is covered in striped paper, with Japanese characters written across a short edge, and a small cutout on either side.

History Of Use

Noshi awabi 熨斗鮑 consists of a thin string of dried abalone (awabi) wrapped in noshi folded piece of paper. Traditionally a Shinto ritual offering, awabi is nowadays often replaced by yellow paper, and attached to a gift given on formal occasions. Awabi is a symbol of food in abundance or good fortune. Noshi 熨斗, a token of esteem forming part of the wrapping of a gift have the origin in noshi awabi, and is attached to the covering of a gift.

Narrative

According to the donor, the box of offerings was found in a traditional style warehouse known as 'kura' in Saitama, Japan. An American friend of the donor was using the space as his papermaker studio from 1970 to c. 2008. The kura had been used previously by a pharmacist, who presumably had left the box behind. The box may date from the 1930s?

Item History

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