When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Antique Japanese Miniature Noh Theatre Mask – Ō-tooffere (大飛出) Style – Papier-Mâché
An unusual and highly expressive antique Japanese miniature mask, possibly representing Ō-tooffere (大飛出), a powerful supernatural character from traditional Japanese Noh theatre.
The mask features a fierce, dramatic expression with prominent bulging eyes, deeply furrowed brows, a broad nose, exaggerated facial features and a wide-open mouth revealing teeth.
Particularly striking are the separately inlaid eyes, with contrasting white and dark pupils, giving the face an intense and almost lifelike appearance.
Made of papier-mâché, the mask has a rich, dark reddish-brown lacquered surface with attractive signs of age and use.
The reverse is hollow and finished in black, with small holes on either side for attachment of a cord.
Although the exact theatrical character cannot be established with certainty, the mask bears a stylistic resemblance to the Ō-tooffere type, traditionally associated with powerful supernatural beings and thunder deities in Japanese Noh theatre.
Details:
Origin: Japan, attributed
Period: Antique, exact age undetermined
Subject: Grotesque supernatural character, possibly Ō-tooffere (大飛出)
Material: Papier-mâché
Finish: Dark reddish-brown lacquered surface
Eyes: Separately inlaid
Height: 6 cm (2.36 inches)
Width: 5 cm (1.97 inches)
Depth: 2.5 cm (0.98 inches)
Signature: No visible overall antique condition, showing surface wear, scratches, minor abrasions and small areas of lacquer loss. Some wear is also visible around the attachment holes on the reverse.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description.
An intriguing and highly characterful example of Japanese miniature mask craftsmanship, appealing to collectors of Japanese antiques, Noh theatre memorabilia, traditional folk art and unusual Asian objects.
Please note: The identification as Ō-tooffere is a stylistic attribution rather than a confirmed identification.
