Kagura Mask, Demon Type, In Carved Monoxide Wood - Edo Period (1603 - 1868).

JAPAN - Edo period (1603 - 1868).
Kagura mask, hook-nosed demon type, carved monoxide wood, eyes and nostrils pierced, red and black lacquer on face, wood left rough on reverse, black horsehair hair, painted eyebrows.
Light wear and chips.
Dimensions : 18 x 13 x 6 cm.

Sold with its base.
Dimensions with base : 27.5 x 13 x 10 cm.

Notes : A kagura mask depicting an unidentified local demon. Kagura (literally, "Divine Entertainment") refers to a specific type of Shinto theatrical dance whose roots predate those of nō theater.
Originally a strictly ceremonial art, derived from kami'gakari (literally, "oracular divination"), kagura has evolved in many directions over more than a millennium.
Today, it's a very much alive tradition, whose rituals are linked to the rhythms of the agricultural calendar. Kagura masks are then worn by dancers to represent gods, spirits, demons or animals, and are characterized by their unique style and strong expressive power.