Lot 46C
East Asia, Japan, ca. mid to late 20th century CE. A trio of traditional Japanese Noh theatre masks, each hand-carved in wood- but only two are finished with rich layers of lacquer and pigment. These masks reflect the deep artistry and expressive nuance central to Noh performance, where subtle changes in angle and lighting bring shifting emotions to life. The grouping includes an unfinished wooden mask, offering insight into the maker's process and the tactile beauty of raw camphor wood. This bird-visaged mask represents Karasu Tengu, a type of mythical creature in Japanese folklore known for crow-like features. The white mask with a jolly laughing face and half-closed eyes is perhaps Ebisu, the cheerful deity of prosperity and good fortune. The interior is etched with a signature. The golden mask, with its fierce fanged mouth, is identified as Dei Kibatobide, its brilliant gold finish symbolizing the supernatural essence of the character. Size of bird mask: 8.75" L x 6" W (22.2 cm x 15.2 cm); 12" H (30.5 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection, acquired before 2000
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#195558
- Condition: Chips and losses to pigments on the white face's chin and top of the forehead. Some scuffs to golden mask. Unpainted wood mask has a few minor scuffs.
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|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
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| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |