95 - AN IMPRESSIVE LACQUERED IRON RESSEI MENPO WITH UCHIDASHI EARS

AN IMPRESSIVE LACQUERED IRON RESSEI MENPO WITH UCHIDASHI EARS Japan, 17 th-18 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely cast and forged in one section with a removable nose plate secured by turning pins, cast with flared nostrils and an open mouth revealing the lips painted red, below the applied horsehair mustache, designed with deeply embossed wrinkles, extending toward the large uchidashi ears, the chin with ase-nagashi, and the cheeks with bent anchoring posts, the reverse lacquered in vermilion red, all fitted with a four-lame black-lacquered iron yodarekake laced in dark blue, the lower edge with mimi-ito. WIDTH 19.7 cm, HEIGHT 23.5 cm WEIGHT 432 g (excl. stand), 1,701 g (incl. stand) Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. The lacquer with small age cracks to the interior, tiny chips to the edges and some flaking. With a metal stand. Masks have long played an important role in Japanese culture: in religious ceremonies, dance, Noh theater, and military costume. For samurai, masks served as a principal face defense and helped secure the helmet to the head more firmly. The majority of masks were half-length (menpo), covering the nose and the face below the eyes. Their iron surfaces are either lacquered or a dark russet finish; the interiors are usually lacquered red. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related iron ressei menpo with similar ears, dated 17 th century, at Sotheby’s, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 10 May 2022, London, lot 26 (sold for GBP 3,024 or approx. EUR 4,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).