User:Konohatengu

Gregory Irvine is Senior Curator in the Asian Department of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London and is principally responsible for the collections of Japanese metalwork, particularly arms and armour. Formerly a curator in the Department of Japanese Antiquities of the British Museum, he joined the V&A in 1992 and began research into the Museum’s extensive sword collection. He has visited Japan on many occasions to carry out research into swords and armour at museums, temples and shrines. He is interested in the philosophies and social background behind the development, use, appreciation and symbolism of weaponry and armour in Japan’s historical and modern periods.

Other areas of research include the use of masks in Japan’s religious ceremonies and rituals, in folk performance and in the traditional theatre and he is working towards both a publication and exhibition on this subject. Current primary research is into the history of collecting Japanese art in the UK and the changing perceptions of, and attitudes towards Japanese art in the UK and Europe during the Meiji and Taishō periods.

Publications include: Masks, the Art of Expression: ed. John Mack, British Museum Press, 1994. Japanese Masks; Collecting a Tradition: Oriental Art, Autumn 1995. Masks, Myths and Monsters in Japanese Art: Suntree, 1996. 'Sensation Diplomacy!' Sir Harry Parkes and Japan: 1865-71; Royal Armouries Yearbook, 1997. Dictionary of Ancient & Medieval Warfare: (contributor) Hutchinson, 1998. The Japanese sword, the Soul of the Samurai: V&A Publications, London, 2000. ‘The finest piece of bronze which an artist’s hand has ever produced’: (co-author) Apollo, Autumn 2000. The Japanese Sword; Orientations, November 2001. Well-Hammered; the Art of Japanese Metalwork: Russell-Cotes Museum, Bournemouth, 2004. A Guide to Japanese Art Collections in the UK: Hotei 2004. Japanese cloisonné: the Seven Treasures: V&A Publications, London, 2006.