Items Similar to 19th Century Meiji Period Japanese Zō-onna Noh Theatre Mask
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21
19th Century Meiji Period Japanese Zō-onna Noh Theatre Mask
$1,882.91
£1,375
€1,611.77
CA$2,592.93
A$2,822.33
CHF 1,495.45
MX$33,942.84
NOK 19,014.31
SEK 17,424.52
DKK 12,039.80
About the Item
Zō-onna Noh Theatre Mask, Meiji Period Noh Mask, Japanese Noh Mask, Antique Japanese Mask, Antique Noh Mask, Noh Theatre Mask, Samurai, Japanese Antique.
Beautifully carved and hand-painted lacquered Cypress wood (Hinoki) Japanese Zō-onna Noh Theatre Mask.
Late 19th Century, Meiji period.
A finely carved and high quality Zō-onna Noh Mask.
Characterfully carved and painted, the mask comes alive with personality and presence.
Very good period condition with lovely aged colour and patina. No damage. Minor stains.
H: 21 cm x W: 14 cm.
In Noh theatre, the Zō-onna mask represents a slightly older woman of composed demeanour. Her features are neat, and her hairline is rendered with great precision. The edges of her mouth are slightly downturned, giving her a slightly sorrowful look, and her teeth are black. A mask of sublime and sacred aura, Zō-onna appears often in roles such as goddesses, bodhisattvas and celestial maidens.
Evolving under shogunate patronage from the 14th century, Noh theatre became an exclusive samurai pastime. In the Tokugawa period (1603 – 1868), commoners were forbidden to see it. Performed by male actors wearing masks, Noh dramas fall into five categories, plays about gods, women, insanity, revenge and demons.
Noh features lavish costumes and exquisitely fashioned wooden masks. The masks are designed and crafted with great subtlety. They can appear to dramatically transform simply from the alterations of light and shadow as the actors move their heads. The pace is hypnotically slow, but the movement delivers great dramatic power.
Noh masks are carved from a single piece of wood painted with natural pigments. The mask represents age, gender and social ranking of human or nonhuman beings like animals, demons or divine creatures. The Noh mask is used to emphasise and stylise the facial expressions which are accompanied with adequate body language and movement in order to stimulate the imagination of Noh play audiences.
- Dimensions:Height: 8.27 in (21 cm)Width: 5.52 in (14 cm)Depth: 2.76 in (7 cm)
- Style:Meiji (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1870 - 1890
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU10296245108772
About the Seller
No Reviews Yet
Vetted Professional Seller
Every seller passes strict standards for authenticity and reliability
1stDibs seller since 2025
Typical response time: 18 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: London, United Kingdom
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View All16 x 18th Century Venetian Marionette Puppets from Commedia dell’arte Theatre
Located in London, GB
Antique Venetian Marionettes, Antique Puppets, Venice Carnival Antiques, Masked Ball Antiques, Venetian Mask, Commedia dell'art Theatre Marionettes.
Co...
Category
Antique Mid-17th Century Italian Baroque Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
19th Century Life Size Carved Oak Religious Sculpture of a Angel Head with Wings
Located in London, GB
Antique Angel Sculpture, Angel Statue, Religious Antique, Church Antique, Religious Carving, Religious Sculpture.
19th Century Carved Sculpture of an Angel.
19th Century life size ...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Gothic Revival Wall-mounted Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Oak
Antique Art Nouveau Goldscheider Terracotta Sculpture Bust of a Dutch Maiden
By Friedrich Goldscheider
Located in London, GB
Antique Friedrich Goldscheider Art Nouveau Terracotta Sculpture Bust of a Dutch Maiden.
Antique Friedrich Goldscheider (1845-1897) Art Nouveau Polychrome Terracotta Bust of a Dutch ...
Category
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Busts
Materials
Terracotta, Paint
Tibetan Antique Ritual Oracle Diadem Skull Crown
Located in London, GB
Tibetan Antique Ritual Oracle Kapala Diadem Carved Skull Crown.
Rare and unusual Tibetan Antique Ritual Oracle Diadem Skull Crown.
Late 19th - early ...
Category
Antique 1890s Tibetan Tibetan Religious Items
Materials
Brass
19th Century Anatomical Model of Dissected Wax Head Mounted on Framed Board
Located in London, GB
Antique Anatomical Model, Anatomical Wax Model, Antique Wax Head, Medical Antique, Anatomical Antique, Vintage Anatomical Model, Antique Cabinet of Curi...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Gothic Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
19th Century Anatomical Plaster Bust After Jean-Antoine Houdon
s L
Écorché
By Jean-Antoine Houdon
Located in London, GB
19th Century Antique Anatomical Model, Anatomical Plaster Bust Sculpture - After Jean-Antoine Houdon's L'Écorché.
Rare 19th Century life-size anatomical plaster bust after Jean-Anto...
Category
Antique 1890s French Late Victorian Busts
Materials
Plaster, Paint
You May Also Like
Antique Japanese Noh theatre Carved Painted Wooden Ko-Omote Mask
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce antique Japanese Noh theatre hand carved and painted wooden mask of Ko-Omote.
Sculpted in Japan in the 19th century, Ko-omote (literally ...
Category
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Cypress, Paint
Japanese Signed Waka-Onna or Ko-Omote Wood Carved Noh Theater Mask, Showa 1900s
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, wonderfully crafted, alluring mask made for Japanese Noh theater.
This mask is handcrafted and hand-carved from natural wood and signed/sealed by the maker on the underside.
This mask is the mask of Waka-Onna - or young beautiful woman. It may be that of Ko-omote. Ko-omote translates as "little mask" or sometimes "small face...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Masks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Japanese Signed Hand Carved Wood Noh Theater Omi-Onna Mask with Custom Box 1900s
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly beautiful, wonderfully crafted, alluring female mask made for the Japanese Noh theatre.
This mask is handcrafted and carved from natural wood and lacquer.
Omi-Onna's (...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Masks
Materials
Wood
Japanese Noh Theater Ko-Omote Mask, Early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Noh Theater Ko-Omote Mask, Early 20th Century
DIMENSIONS:
Height: 8.5 inches
Width: 4.5 inches
Depth: 3 inches
ABOUT
A finely carved and painted Ko-Omote mask used in trad...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Decorative Art
Materials
Wood
Japanese Signed Hand Carved Wood Noh Theater Mask of Doji, Early Showa Period
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, wonderfully crafted, alluring mask made for Japanese Noh theatre.
The mask is handcrafted and hand-carved from natural wood and is signed by the maker.
This mask is o...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Masks
Materials
Wood
Japanese Okame Ko-Omote Wood Carved Noh Theater Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, wonderfully crafted, alluring mask made for Japanese Noh theatre. This mask is handcrafted and carved from natural wood.
Ko-omote translates as "little mask" or sometimes "small face." This particular delicate featured mask (her red lips really stand out) is used for main and sometimes secondary roles when the character is a young girl or, in some cases, a supernatural being. What is also interesting about this mask is the blackened teeth which centuries ago, was customary for Japanese women to paint their teeth black after they became married.
We believe this mask dates from the mid-to early Showa period, perhaps Mejia. The mask was acquired from an antique mask...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
