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Japanese Noh Mask * polychrome wood representing a demon face grimacing from Japan, Edo period nineteenth century.
This mask is in good condition. The nostrils and eyes are perforated. The whiskers and beard are in hair.
A note: some accidents and lack of polychromy, wear of time, see photos.
We put other noh masks for sale on this site.
is one of the traditional styles of Japanese theater coming from a religious and aristocratic conception of life. Noh combines chronicles in verse with danced pantomimes. Sporting sumptuous costumes and specific masks (there are 138 different masks), the actors play mainly for shoguns and samurai. Masks are used for all shite roles except the roles of children and living adult men (as opposed to ghosts). When the shite plays without a mask, it must keep a neutral expression, exactly as if it wore a mask anyway. The design of the Noh masks combines real and symbolic elements, their aim being to provide information on the type of character as well as on his mood. When he puts on the mask, the actor symbolically leaves his own personality to take that of the character he is going to embody. Contemplating the mask is therefore part of the preparation for the role. In addition, due to the lighting, the expression of the mask is designed to be able to vary according to the angle of exposure. The actor must therefore constantly control the tilt of his head in order to present his mask to light according to the orientation desired by the mood of his character. Demon masks, which can have open or closed mouths, are distinguished by the great expressiveness of the features and the golden coloring of the eyes. These two elements express the raw power and savagery of the supernatural beings they represent. Only masks of female demons have horns; males don't have one.
