Meiji Noh Mask Set in Papier-Mâché and Ebonized Wood, Japan, Set of 5

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(5) Set of Noh masks, papier-mâché and ebonized wood, Meiji period, late 19th century - Japan
Type: Set of Noh … Read more (5) Set of Noh masks, papier-mâché and ebonized wood, Meiji period, late 19th century - Japan
Type: Set of Noh theater masks
Materials: Papier-mâché, horsehair, glass eyes, and ebonized wood
Period: Late 19th century
Country of origin: Japan
Good condition considering its age and use
Dimensions: 22 x 18 x 5 cm
Beautiful set of 5 antique Japanese Noh theater masks, dating from the late 19th century during the Meiji period (1868-1912).

These Japanese Noh masks are made of papier-mâché, with glass eyes and horsehair added to enhance the realistic effect. They depict male faces with grotesque expressions; one is even red, suggesting it represents the face of a demon (Hannya or Shikami).

They are framed on ebonized wood panels, which provide them with their sober, dark background against which they stand out.

About Noh or Nō Theater
Noh theater was a dramatic musical movement and trend that reflected Zen spirituality and Shinto legends of feudal society, representing a sophisticated response to the primitive forms of sarugaku dance. It emerged in Japan during the 14th century under the influence of Zeami Motokiyo's texts and the patronage of the Ashikaga shogunate. It sought to portray human duality and the soul's journeys, often focusing on the spirit world, fallen warriors, and deities, capturing moments that reflected cultural identity, restraint of gesture (yūgen), and the ritual customs of the samurai court. Typically, the masks (noh-men) were not mere costumes, but sacred objects and metaphysical conduits that allowed the lead male actor (shite) to transcend time and space to embody the archetype. In the Meiji era, Noh experienced remarkable development; after being on the verge of disappearing with the fall of the shoguns, the emperor and the nobility rescued it to safeguard the nation's folklore in the face of the country's rapid industrialization and Westernization. See less