Japanese Works of Art - 27th July 2021
Lot 418
THREE JAPANESE WOOD GIGAKU MASKS
Estimate £1,500 - £2,500
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Description
THREE JAPANESE WOOD GIGAKU MASKS
MEIJI OR TAISHO PERIOD, 20TH CENTURY
All three finely carved and with remnants of russet brown or red lacquer, the first depicting a monkey with its eyes wide open in surprise; the second depicting a smiling man with an aquiline nose and elongated earlobes; the third another smiling man with a large square-shaped face and a turned-up nose, with thick horse hair for the eyebrows, moustache and beard; each mask signed and inscribed by the artist Kano Tessai (1845-1925), 26cm max. (3)
Kano Tessai (1845-1925) was a sculptor who specialised in mask netsuke. He started life as a Buddhist priest whilst being taught the art of carving by his father. He also studied Chinese literature and art and he became a professor at the Tokyo Art School in 1872.