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The Chester Beatty Library in Dublin with the continued support of The Sumitomo Foundation in Tokyo, have now commissioned Restorient to conserve three more of their most treasured Japanese paintings. Dating from the early 17th century this set of hand scrolls chart the epic tale of "Hunting the Ogres" It will be possible to follow the conservation of these magnificent hand scrolls here on this blog. We at Restorient are delighted to have the opportunity to share this remarkable project, and to offer some insights into this type of specialist conservation.

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Wednesday 30 October 2013

Overdressed ?

It was not at all unusual in Japan to see itinerant Pilgrims and Priests often carrying a portable altar. These could be either men or women and it was common at the end of a working life to go on a pilgrimage. Suspended from the front of their sash there would be a small gong to announce their arrival as well as bells they jingled and a short staff they shook in front of them. They relied upon charitable donations and they invariably wore plain inconspicuous clothes.

An itinerant priest c1867-1868
Itinerant priests c1880

In order to travel incognito the Ogre hunters decided to "disguise" themselves as Buddhist pilgrims. However, whilst they are clearly masters of all forms of combat they seem to have been somewhat reluctant to forgo a dashing outfit in the interests of disguise ........

 
Our Samurai and their rather unconvincing "disguise ''

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