Q:  I came across this Devil-faced mask at a local auction. It appears to be made from wood, I’m not sure what material the eyes are made of. Have you got any clue where this grinning devil originated from? I recall paying £65 for it, perhaps too much money but I like it.  Alex, 1186 A:  The quality of this wood carving is very high. The eyes are painted, but sometimes glass is used. It comes from China where skilled carvers have been slowly cranking them out for several generations. They are sold in tourist shops and art galleries around the world. Many different characters are portrayed. They are always…

This mask is very popular in Yangju, South Korea. In the dance drama this ugly old man tries to seduce a pretty girl. The white dots on his black face are supposed to represent small pox. There are quite a few characters in these celebrations, but the favorites are monks and pretty girls. The girl masks are colored white and the monks are black. This one is made out of wood. The other common material used in Yangju is papier mache. Korean masks look much different from those of other countries around the world.  B+

Q:  My mother brought this mask with her when she moved to the main land from Kauai, HI. She told me someone she knew got it from the Wilcox family estate on Kauai in the 70s. I’m assuming it is Japanese from looking at the style and markings on the rear. I am interested in learning more about it.  Michael, 1156 A:  It is indeed Japanese– one of the most famous characters from the classic Noh theater, Hannya the she devil. Just Google her for more information. The good news is that all kinds of Americans love this character, not just mask collectors, so you can sell it easily. The…

Q:  Do you want to use this mask for your website?  This special hermit mask is a Lersi Por Gae that was made for a Thai shaman. It is beautifully made and has written mantras in Pali all over the face.  Only 4 years old, it has never been danced, but is still authentic in the sense that it was part of a shaman’s shrine. Quite rare, I’ve seen only one other so far.   Steph, 1105 A:  Blow up the second photo as large as you can and see how finely Thai maskmakers can form and decorate these papier mache masterpieces. If you have a copy of Masks of the…

Q:  I first came upon these while researching Noh masks in museums in Europe. I later discovered other examples mostly in association with Asian antique dealers and auction houses. They are frequently identified as “iki-ningyo” masks but are also identified incorrectly as noh or gigaku masks. I have tried to find these same sort of objects in Japan, through Japanese-language google searches and websites. No luck. The closest association (though still quite dissimilar) are iki-ningyo heads. No masks. There is a reference in Alan Scott Pate’s Japanese Dolls: The Fascinating World of Ningyo, but I can find no mention of masks. My guess is that these types of works were…

Q:  While searching the internet I learned this is a Hanhoe mask from Korea. The face of a Depraved Monk, I would guess. Also attached is a close-up of the back showing Korean writing clear enough to read.  Ivan, 1056 A:  I always like to get photos of the front, side and rear. In this case, it would also be helpful to get a translation of the writing on the back. It might identify this as a bride’s mask. It is a very popular character and is always carved out of wood with a moving jaw. Most of the other characters (different monks, government officials, etc.) are usually made of…

Q:  This is a very large paper mache mask.  It is Japanese and comes from the Shinshu region.  Size is 52cm W x 66cm H.  There is a collection of 12 – one for each month.  The one I have is July.  I bought it close to 30 years ago.  Apparently they were to protect people when traveling.  The Japanese name is 道神面 (road/god/mask).  There are also smaller masks in wood, with the same designs.  I have searched on the net to see if they are still sold, however, I have been unable to find any – only books in Japanese about the artist and his works. Here is a…

Called Hannya, this famous character shows up in several Noh dramas as well as Kyogen plays and Shinto rituals. Hannya is also popular in America as a tattoo subject, good luck charm and decorative wall hanging. What you see here is a mask for the use of a professional actor in Japan. Note that several stages of construction are shown. Most of the time people send me pictures of masks they can’t identify, but I also show photos that illustrate other aspects of mask collecting. Anything is possible on this blog. I hope you will help me improve this service with your opinions. Feel free to write a little or…

Q:  Aaron is kind enough to share his recent acquisitions once again. Here is what he has to say about this exciting Japanese mask… The black mask is indeed Japanese.  It’s an old Bugaku mask, called Somakusha.  Masks like this predate Noh theatre and were used in Shinto temple ritual dances.  Also, unlike Noh, Bugaku masks are not all made of wood.  Some are, but others (like this one) are made from kanshitsu, which is a composite made from resin and wood dust, then covered with lacquer.  Aaron, 968 A:  Traditional masks have always been of great interest to the Japanese. In addition to ritual usage, they are bought to…

Q:  I bought this mask in Bangkok at Jj mall.  The man said he brought the mask back from China.  He mentioned it was a Chinese tribal around 100 years old (unsure of how genuine he was being, but I had my Thai friend there speaking with him). I ended up paying a little over $100 US dollars.  Most of his merchandise was more expensive than this. Let me know anything else I can provide to help.  Miles, 960 A: Sorry for the bad news… Though it (the 2nd photo) is Chinese tribal, it is a recently made, cheap tourist version of a Yao mask. For comparison I’m also posting…