(Sanbaso Dancer) c. mid 19th century

This small sculpture by Ran Tei depicts a Sanbaso dancer with a fan, clad in ceremonial robes, and, most strikingly, goat-like feet. The Sanbaso dance is a celebratory ritual, traditionally performed at the start of Noh theatre, and symbolizes a prayer for good harvest. The dancer’s exaggerated tongue evokes the grotesque masks of ancient rituals, intended to ward off evil spirits. Similar gestures appear in depictions of Silenus, the tutor of Dionysus, in classical art. These figures share a primal energy, a connection to earthly forces, with the dancer. The fan connects to symbols of power across cultures, from ancient Egypt to Imperial China. In this context, it is more than a mere prop; it is a tool to conjure good fortune, and command elemental forces, revealing how symbols morph across eras.