Geisha art in the Jan Colton Collection [054]

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Title Geisha art in the Jan Colton Collection [054]
Collection Name and Number P0479 Lennox and Catherine Tierney Photo Collection
Photo Number Box 58, Special Lectures, Geisha and Related Customs, 84
Publisher Digitized by J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah
Date 1978
Subject Geishas--Art--Photographs; Japan; Geishas; Flowers
Keywords Banquets
Description A detailed photo showing a display of flower arrangements in Tokonoma (alcove) and Geishas at a banquet, from a Meiji period album in the Jan Colton Collection, San Diego, California
Caption on Slide Det. Fl. Arr. in Tokonoma Geish Banquet Colton Coll. S.D. Meiji Per. Album Print Japan.
Additional Information Image was scanned from color slide. Tokonoma (床の間), also referred to simply as toko, is a Japanese term generally referring to a built-in recessed space in a Japanese style reception room, in which items for artistic appreciation are displayed. In English, tokonoma is usually called alcove. "Geisha (芸者), Geiko (芸子) or Geigi (芸妓) are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance." The geisha profession emerged from the "pleasure quarters" established by the Shogunate in the 16th century, and began with men who entertained with music, dance, poetry, and other arts. "The forerunners of the female geisha were the teenage odoriko ("dancing girls"): expensively trained as chaste dancers-for-hire. In the 1680s, they were popular paid entertainers in the private homes of upper-class samurai, though many had turned to prostitution by the early 18th century. Those who were no longer teenagers (and could no longer style themselves odoriko) adopted other names-one being "geisha", after the male entertainers. … As they became more widespread throughout the 1760s and 1770s, many began working only as entertainers (rather than prostitutes) often in the same establishments as male geisha. … By 1800, being a geisha was considered a female occupation (though there are still a handful of male geisha working today)."--Wikipedia.
Type Image
Creator Tierney, Lennox
Rights Management This material may be protected by copyright. Permission required for use in any form. For further information please contact the Multimedia Archivist, Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah.
ARK ark:/87278/s62z1p7k
Digitization Specifications Original scanned on Nikon Coolscan 5000 and saved as 2700 ppi TIFF. Display image generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000.
Donor Lennox Tierney; Catherine Tierney
Setname uum_lctpc
ID 338351
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s62z1p7k
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