MASK FOR A CHILD ACTOR.
Japan. Edo period. Mask: 18th/19th century; new coloring dated 1906.

Wood; carved; painted in skin color on a white gofun ground; eyes and teeth with traces of gilding. Mask inside painted red. With the wide opened; rolled eyes; an frightened mouth and much wrinkles the mask shows a caricature of the human faical expression. Adding to this is the pointed and curved chin; even reaching the mouth. This small mask might have been meant for a child and could have been used in Ky鬵en; Kagura or Bugaku. Inside on the red painting on the right side there is an inscription with place and dating: 詓akafu
Higashinarigun hinoe uma (presumably 1906). Length 15cm. Condition B/C. The nosetip chipped long time ago.Art trade; Van Ham.