Mask of the "no" theatre
Description
wood, slightly encrusted brown patina, white pigment remains, ornamental arranged eyebrows and beard, expressive forms (broad nose and mouth), min. dam., fine cracks, small missing parts through insect caused damage, base;
presumably originating from the Edo period, which means the time from 1603 until 1868, when the Tokugawa shoguns reigned; named after the capital city Edo, nowadays Tokyo.
The “no” mask are called “no-men” or “omote” (= “face”). The traditional “no-theatre” came into being in the 14th century. In the course of time about 250 different mask types for the depiction of different characters have been developed. There are masks for women and men, monsters and deamons, as well as masks for divinities. In most cases they were carved from the wood of japanese cypress. Traditional themes were taken from japanese or chinese mythology or literature.