Mask of the "Nuo" opera · China · ID: 3048775

Name: Mask of the "Nuo" opera
SKU: 3048775
Price: 1200 EUR
Availability: SoldOut

sold EUR 1,200

Provenance

Werner Zintl, Worms, Germany (acquired in a Paris gallery in 2011)

Size

H: 36 cm

H: 14.2 inch

Description

wood, colour pigments, rest., base

Aesthetically very pleasing face with beautifully cut eyes and a large laughing mouth. Small pegs indicate an upper lip and whiskers, the eyebrows are marked by finely painted strokes.

This mask was used in performances of the “Nuo” opera, which developed in southern China among the minorities living there (Miao, Dong, Yao, Maonan etc.) at the time of the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Its origins can probably be traced back to earlier shamanism and its rites to ward off evil spirits. The purpose of the “Nuo” opera is to drive away devils, diseases and evil influences and to ask for the blessing of the gods.

The number of masks used in a drama ranges from a few dozen to two hundred. Each “Nuo” mask has a fixed name and represents a specific role/character.

The object Mask of the “Nuo” opera with the object ID 3048775 was last part of the auction 98th Auction at March 26, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 22 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on Asian art.

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