Bugaku Maskette
Japan
Japanese cypress, lacquer
Late 19th to early 20th century
3.5" (9 cm) high, 2-5/8" (6.2 cm) wide, 2" (5 cm) deep
This is a small study maskette of the character Heishitori, whose name means "wine bearer." Here is the description from Bugaku Masks by Kyotaro Nishikawa,1978, pg. 60.

"Carrying a full jug of wine, the wine bearer (heishitori) serves each of the young barbarians sitting on the stage, not hesitating to steal some of the wine for himself. A drunken luster shines in his smiling face with its widely spread teeth and pudgy nose."
#3415

SOLD