Tiny Severed Heads at LACMA

Just when I thought I had exhausted the total supply of severed heads in LA museums, LACMA shines through. I was double lucky (or bi-winning, as we say these days) on this find, as I arrived at LACMA just after they rotated the Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection of netsuke in the Japanese [...]

Netsuke by Masatoshi (Nakamura Tokisada) at LACMA

I routinely find excuse/opportunity to visit the Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection of netsuke in the Japanese Pavilion at LACMA.  What could easily be an extremely static collection is always presented in a new way.  There are 836 pieces in the collection, which are shown on a rotating basis, with only 150 on display [...]

More Netsuke at LACMA #3 – Two Gods

Moving up the spiritual ladder, you’ve got your straight out gods. Japan has always been a melting pot of religious beliefs, home to a multitude of characters chock full of raw mojo. As a Jew, I find polytheistic traditions tempting like forbidden fruit – my own beliefs seem colourless and uptight compared to the [...]