{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O76818"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O76818/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8326/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8326/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT8326","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O76818/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O76818","accessionNumber":"W.516-1922","objectType":"Mask","titles":[{"title":"Ryo-O","type":"generic title"},{"title":"Ranryo-O","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This mask belongs to an ancient tradition of masked drama and court dance known as Bugaku. It would have been worn by the character playing Ryo-O (also known as Ranryo-O), the Dragon King and is carved from a single piece of wood. The dragon was carved from several pieces that were then joined together. The mask is coloured with natural paints and pigments and the details of the eyebrows and moustache have been added with tufts of white horse hair. The moveable eyes are attached to a metal rod to which the chin is also attached by leather thongs. The eyes were originally gilded with the surrounding area painted bright red. The dangling chin-cup is lacquered in the rich orange-red colour of <i>negoro</i> lacquer, and may be a later replacement. The magnificent dragon wraps around the head of the mask with his chest raised, the mouth open to reveal his teeth and tongue, and the small wings spread wide in a threatening attitude. The head and body are painted green, with details of the scaly body in black; the chest and under-belly are highlighted in red. The face, eyes and teeth are gilded with details in red and black. There are two curly gilt metal whiskers.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"horsehair","id":"AAT11819"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"painting","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved and painted hinoki wood","categories":[],"styles":[{"text":"Muromachi","id":"AAT18561"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AT8326"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"45","id":"THES49801"},"free":"","case":"11","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Mask","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1450-1550","earliest":"1450-01-01","latest":"1550-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"19.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"mask only","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"27.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"with dragon","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"20.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Bugaku mask of the Dragon King (Ryō-ō), carved and painted wood with horse hair, showing a threatening dragon wraps around the head of the mask, Japan, 1450-1550.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Ryo-O","id":"N2546"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Bugaku mask of the Dragon King (Ryō-ō)\r\n1450–1550\r\n\r\nBugaku is a ritual dance that was imported to Japan from mainland Asia in the late 8th century. It was performed at Shintō shrines, Buddhist temples and the imperial court. The dragon is a water deity in Japanese tradition and the Ryō-ō mask was used in ceremonies performed to bring rain during periods of drought.\r\n\r\nCarved, lacquered and painted cypress, with silk and horsehair\r\nMuseum no. W.516-1922\r\n","date":{"text":"04/11/2015","earliest":"2015-11-04","latest":"2015-11-04"}}],"partNumbers":["W.516-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"516","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-21","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-17","availableToBook":false}}