Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art
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The Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art, which is located in Haifa, Israel, is devoted entirely to displaying and conserving Japanese art works, and is the only one of its kind in the Middle East. It was founded in 1959, with the assistance and initiative of Felix Tikotin (1893-1986) of the Netherlands, and the late Abba Hushi, who was Mayor of Haifa at that time.
Overview
On May 18 1958 the Haifa City Council decided to acquire the Kisch House and to use the land which formed part of the property as the site of the Japanese Museum.
The Kisch House now contains the offices of the museum, as well as art workshops, a Japanese room, and a library, the largest of its kind in Israel, containing some 3,000 books and academic publications on the arts and culture of Japan.
On May 25 1960, the Japanese Museum opened its gates to the public. During the years 1966 - 1993 the museum was directed by Eli Lancman. During this period the museum received worldwide reputation and donations, including that of the Japanese millioner Ryuichi Sasakawa.
The Museum's collection comprises some 7,000 items including paintings, prints, drawings, screens, textiles, ancient illustrated books, ceramics, miniature carvings (netsuke), metal and lacquer work, antique swords and handicrafts, mainly from the 14th to 19th centuries. It also includes modern Japanese works of art.
In 1995, a new wing designed by the late Japanese architect Junzō Yoshimura of Tokyo and the Israeli architect, Professor Al Mansfeld, was added to the existing gallery.
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