Monday, February 24, 2003

Decoration of Special Containers Looking at the different ways containers for special objects are constructed we find many that many are highly decorated (...and then again, some are almost blank.) For today, let's look at some containers we hadn't really gotten into -shrines. As containers, they may posses a relic, but may also have a less material object, perhaps being occupied by a god or being, maybe a statue or visual reference to something beyond it. A Mikoshi is a portable Shinto shrine which spirits inhabit. Mikoshi are numerous. Note the vibrant colors, relief work, strong architectural elements, all decorating the container. Indeed, the many carriers could be seen as additional decoration. Tibet Portable Shrine (colluminar). Note the repeated designs on the exterior including Buddhas and flames. Lotus Shrine with articulated petals uses relief as well as hinged petals to offer further decoration possibilities as well as a kinetic aspect. Tibet Portable Shrine in silver offers rich, repeated, decoration, as well as a small window in which to view a statue. The Catholic Ostensorium is similiar, in that it allows one to see the object within. Note the rays eminating from the containing area in the first figure. Tibet Portable Shrine, painted wood has a more simple decoration, yet quite colorul. India Portable Shrine, of painted wood includes an interior of multiple panels for the purposes of telling a story as well as creating a multi-faceted decorative scheme. To be sure, "Portable" shrines come in various sizes. Again, we have the repeated (in this case ,woven) pattern. The folks at Dragon's Gate offer a do it yourself Obutsudan. Just print, cut, and fold, and have your own Buddhist shrine. Note: Here we have an exterior surface with little, or no, decoration. (Looks like an error on the Dragon's gate page, the first picture can be found here.) A modern day portable shrine suitable for multiple religions, offers a sophisticated interior, but a plain exterior. Of course we've seen plain exteriors before, notably during our look into the tomobako or wooden box that some Japanese potters use to hold pottery. Except for the possibly of some writing and a fancy cord, there would be no decoration. We could go back and look at the other types of special containors mentioned earlier and note their decorations as well.... 10:12:20 PM