Page 84 - Fine Japanese Art Bonhams London May 2018

180

WOOD AND OTHER WORKS OF ART
Various Properties

180 *
A NOH MASK AND TWO KAGURA MASKS
One attributed to Hanyu Mitsunaga, Taisho
(1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era,
20th century
Comprising a Noh mask of Yamanba
181 (mountain hag), painted in natural flesh
colours with black painted hair and red lips,
unsigned; the first kagura mask loosely based
on the Akujo (fierce old man) Noh masks,
typically painted in pink tones with black and
white hair and gilt eyes, the chin with traces of
a beard, inscribed Mitsunaga on the reverse
in an oval cartouche; the second kagura mask
patterned after the Noh masks of Shintai
(youthful deity), painted pink with black hair
and red lips, unsigned; each 21cm (8¼in)
high; accompanied by a black-lacquer storage
box. (4).

£2,000 - 3,000
JPY300,000 - 450,000
US$2,800 - 4,200

The cartouche of the first kagura mask
possibly belongs to Hanyu Mitsunaga who
was reportedly born in 1890 and worked as
182 a carver of kagura masks in the Taisho and
early Showa era. He usually used a different
cartouche that incorporated all four characters
of his name, but this two-character cartouche
has also been associated with him.
For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
82 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.