Japanese Art Masterpieces in British Museum

The British Museum's opening of new Japanese galleries prompted the release of this publication. The work contains several chapters that provide a brief and clear discussion of the history of Japanese art, accompanied by 251 high-quality reproductions of items from the museum. The authors cover traditions of painting, prints (including a chapter on the 20th century), sculpture, lacquerware, and less familiar arts such as armor, swords, money, mirrors, and clocks. Additionally, a chapter is dedicated to the tea ceremony, in recognition of the complete chashitsu (tea ceremony room) now housed in the museum, donated by the Urasenke Foundation of Kyoto. The book also includes an extensive and useful glossary of Japanese art terms. It is recommended as an excellent introduction to Japanese art for general readers and as a valuable supplement to traditional histories for college and university libraries as noted by Patricia R. Hausman, Coll. of William and Mary Lib., Williamsburg, Va.

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