A Japanese Gigaku Noh Drama mask of a laughing old man, Edo period, 19th century…

Description

A Japanese Gigaku Noh Drama mask of a laughing old man, Edo period, 19th century Expressive male mask made of papier-mâché with a wrinkled face and strongly elongated earlobes. Perforations on the sides. The surfaces slightly rubbed. Length approx. 26 cm. Condition: II

8174

A Japanese Gigaku Noh Drama mask of a laughing old man, Edo

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Estim. 300 - 600 EUR

ECHIZEN DEME: A NOH MASK OF KAWAZU ECHIZEN DEME: A NOH MASK OF KAWAZU Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) The wood mask finely carved and lacquered, portraying Kawazu, with sharp cheekbones and sunken eyes below bushy eyebrows, the mouth ajar revealing black teeth, framed by a moustache. The mask inscribed to the interior within a lacquer reserve shaped as a banner ECHIZEN DEME UCHI. LENGTH 20.3 cm WEIGHT 155.4 g Condition: Good condition with some wear, flaking of the lacquer, and touchups. Auction result comparison: Compare a related mask of Kawazu by Deme Toshimitsu, dated 18th to 19th century, at Christie’s, Japanese and Korean Art, 22 September 2004, New York, lot 331 (sold for 5,736).

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

GYOSUI: A LACQUERED WOOD GIGAKU MASK OF TAIKOFU GYOSUI: A LACQUERED WOOD GIGAKU MASK OF TAIKOFU By Gyosui, signed Gyosui saku with seal Gyosui Japan, Nara, early 20 th century Finely carved and lacquered to depict an elderly man with a long aquiline nose, full red lips forming a smile, elongated earlobes, and deeply carved wrinkles. The eyes and mouth are pierced. The back with a label inscribed Kokuho gigakumen wo mosu, Todaiji Koshofu-men, GYOSUI saku (‘Made by Gyosui, a replica Gigaku mask based on the original Taikofu Gigaku mask at the Todaiji Temple’), with the seal GYOSUI. Rich, dark patina. HEIGHT 26 cm Condition: Good condition with some wear and simulated wear, minor age cracks, flaking and losses to lacquer, tiny chips to edges, possibly few minor old repairs. This mask represents a lonely old man and is paired with Daikoji. It was carved by Gyosui, a pupil of Kano Tessai (1845-1925), who was engaged in copying ancient works of art from the Shoso-in repository in Nara. This mask represents one of many varied and colorful characters of the masked dance drama called Gigaku, of which some are grotesque, some of Indian and Persian appearance, some from Buddhism and some from Brahmanism. According to the Nihon Shoki, Gigaku was brought to Japan by one Mimashi, an immigrant from Baekche, Korea in 612. It originated in the Chinese kingdom of Wu, or Kure in Japanese, and was also known as Kure no Uta Mai (Song and Dance of Kure). The drama was performed in the recently built temples of Nara which were then the centers of learning and culture, and the Nihon Shoki further records that envoys from Silla were entertained with a performance of Gigaku at the Kawahara temple in 692. Masks of the period survive in the Horyuji and Todaiji temples, with more than a hundred preserved in the Shosoin repository, some with ink inscriptions of dates and the names of the characters. Among them some are dated 9 April 752 showing that they were used in celebrations accompanying the ‘Eye Opening’ ceremony for the great bronze Buddha in the Todaiji in that year. The Todaiji records indicate sixty musicians and four ‘Gigaku Masters’ present at the ceremony. Literature comparison: Compare a similar mask from the Todaiji temple collection, possibly the original, illustrated in Nihon no Chokoku 4, Tenpyo Jidai (Bijutsu Shuppansha 1952). Museum comparison: A carved and polychrome wood mask of Taikofu, dated to the 7th century (Asuka period), is in the Tokyo National Museum, no. N-216.

Estim. 150 - 300 EUR

MIWA: A WOOD NOH MASK NETSUKE OF SHIWAJO MIWA: A WOOD NOH MASK NETSUKE OF SHIWAJO Signed Miwa 三輪 Japan, 19th century The Shiwajo mask with finely incised wrinkles and hair, showing a stern facial expression, his hair knotted at the top in ribbon shape. The face detailed with an open mouth with four crooked teeth. Himotoshi bar to the back, hosting the signature. HEIGHT 5.3 cm Condition: Good condition with wear, few nicks here and there, and traces of use and age.

Estim. 250 - 500 EUR

DEME UMAN: A WOOD NOH MASK NETSUKE OF O-BESHIMI DEME UMAN: A WOOD NOH MASK NETSUKE OF O-BESHIMI By Deme Uman, signed Deme Uman 出目右滿 Japan, Edo (Tokyo), early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Boldly carved as an O-Beshimi mask with broad nose and furrowed brows, the lips set firmly. The back with a central bar housing the himotoshi and signature DEME UMAN. HEIGHT 3.9 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. Provenance: Collection Gabor Orszagh, Budapest, Hungary.

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