Autumn Special Exhibition Meibutsu: Treasured Objects with Provenance, Pedigree, and Prestige

From around the Muromachi period (1336¬–1573), well-known masterpieces, such as tea ceremony utensils and swords, came to be known as meibutsu, literally "famed objects." To be considered a meibutsu, an item must not only be widely renowned and have inherent appeal, it must also have been owned by a historical figure, such as a warlord or a tea master such as Sen no Rikyū. These meibutsu, which can be said to have received historical validation, have also had a significant influence on the valuation of contemporary works.
This exhibition traces the development of meibutsu through the numerous distinguished named treasures in the Owari Tokugawa collection, with a particular focus on tea ceremony utensils and swords.