A RARE CARVED AND POLYCHROME WOOD MASK SHOP SIGN, LATE EDO-MEIJI PERIOD

拍品描述

A RARE CARVED AND POLYCHROME WOOD MASK SHOP SIGN, LATE EDO-MEIJI PERIOD This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve Expert’s note: The present lot is a rare surviving example of a Japanese mask-maker's or mask-dealer's shop sign, conceived as a striking assemblage of carved and lacquered theatrical masks. Rather than relying solely on written characters, artisans and merchants frequently displayed large three-dimensional representations of the goods they produced or sold. Japan, 19th-early 20th century. Carved as an arrangement of seven theatrical masks, richly lacquered in shades of red, orange, yellow, creamy white, green and black. The masks rendered with expressive facial features and varying physiognomies to depict Fukusuke and masks of men with smiling and jovial faces. The eyes and mouth pierced. Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Length 90 cm Masks occupy a central position in the history of Japanese theatre and performance. Their most refined expression is found in Noh theatre, a highly stylized dramatic tradition that emerged during the Muromachi period and flourished under the patronage of the warrior elite. Noh masks, known as omote, are masterfully carved from wood and represent a wide range of characters, including young women, old men, deities, ghosts and demons. Through subtle changes in angle and lighting, a single mask can convey a remarkable range of emotions, from serenity and joy to sorrow and melancholy. The production of Noh masks became a specialized art form in its own right, with renowned schools of mask carvers developing distinctive styles that were transmitted through generations. Alongside Noh, other theatrical traditions also made use of masks. Kyogen, the comic theatre traditionally performed between Noh plays, employed masks for certain stock characters, including deities, spirits and animals. Religious dances and ritual performances associated with Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples likewise relied upon masks to embody supernatural beings and legendary figures. Folk entertainments throughout Japan incorporated a wide variety of mask types, often characterized by bold expressions and vibrant colors.

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