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Gong Held by Oni

late 19th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 684
This ferocious sculpture was made primarily as a display piece and possibly to appeal to the European export market. The two oni (demons) are carrying a large dora (gong) in a procession. The gong, a genuine example, is the type used in theater, tea ceremonies, and Buddhist rituals.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Gong Held by Oni
  • Date: late 19th century
  • Geography: Shinmonzen-dori, Kyoto, Higashiyama-ku, Japan
  • Culture: Japanese
  • Medium: Metal, wood, lacquer, polychrome
  • Dimensions: Gong Diam. 77 cm (30-5/16 in.); Left figure H. 163.5 cm (64-3/8 in.), W. 93 cm (36-5/8 in.); Right figure H. 170 cm (67in.), W. 76 cm (30 in.); Pole L. 192 + knob 9 cm = 201 cm ( 79-1/) in.)
  • Classification: Idiophone-Struck-gong
  • Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
  • Object Number: 89.4.2016a–e
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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