Japan. 19th c. Cedar (sugi), carved and delicately painted. Real hair, knotted to delicate stripes. Teeth carved of bone. Rare portrayal of a deceased person with closed eyes and eyeballs sunken deeply in the holes. The partly open mouth with yellow, uneven teeth. Under uncombed hair dark veins and short hair are painted on the forehead.
As it is an overly realistic portrayal, the mask dates back to the 19th c. Similar to the N? mask Kagekiyo, the portrayal is not stylized as usual but very realistic. A masterpiece painting by Hokusai with similiar theme, two cut off heads, was sold in December 2014 by Van Ham (A. 347, lot 249). Length 24cm, width 15cm, depth ca. 7cm. Condition A/B. Surface of chin and right cheek restored.
Provenance: -Rhenish private collection, acquired ca. 1977 as lot 97 in Klefisch auction no. 12.