拍品專文
This is a figure of a female shaman (in Japanese shamanism, good and evil spirits can be influenced by the ministrations of priestesses). This is modelled in the Kauto style of the Tumulus period (250-552 AD) and figures of this kind have been found at Kamakura and in the Gunma prefecture.
Although many Haniwa figures can be identified as male by their armour and swords, more subtle clues indicate the female nature of a figure. The shamanic figures of the type described above are recognisable by the kind of butterfly-shaped headdress, projecting over the forehead. Both male and female figures can be found with earrings (although mostly on females) and with necklaces, either of round beads, as in the present instance, or of comma-shaped magatana. The lateral single loop over the headdress in this figure is very rare. Many figures are damaged, but one with two smaller loops is now an Important Cultural Property in the Collection of the Tokyo National Museum. This is illustrated in Haniwa, vol 8 in the Arts of Japan series, (John Weatherhill Inc., 1974) (originally published in Japan in 1967 by Shibundo, as vol 19 of Nihon no Bijutsu).
Although many Haniwa figures can be identified as male by their armour and swords, more subtle clues indicate the female nature of a figure. The shamanic figures of the type described above are recognisable by the kind of butterfly-shaped headdress, projecting over the forehead. Both male and female figures can be found with earrings (although mostly on females) and with necklaces, either of round beads, as in the present instance, or of comma-shaped magatana. The lateral single loop over the headdress in this figure is very rare. Many figures are damaged, but one with two smaller loops is now an Important Cultural Property in the Collection of the Tokyo National Museum. This is illustrated in Haniwa, vol 8 in the Arts of Japan series, (John Weatherhill Inc., 1974) (originally published in Japan in 1967 by Shibundo, as vol 19 of Nihon no Bijutsu).