1884.114.52

Collection type

Object

Description

Noh mask for the ?spirit of a drowned man. Or old man with superhuman strength [JN 14/8/2019]

Geographical reference

Japan

Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan

Unknown

Cultural groups

Japanese

Person

Maker Unknown Maker

Field collector Unknown Collector

PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection

Date / Period

Date made: Possibly before 1880 Archaeological period: Middle Edo Period, uncertain

Date collected

?Prior to 1880

Acquisition information

Donated: 1884

Materials and processes

Material Wood Plant, Material Pigment, Material Copper Alloy Metal, Material Hair, Process Painted, Process Carved

Dimensions

Width: max 175 mm, Length: max 205 mm excluding beard

Object numbers

Accession number: 1884.114.52 PR no.: 346/ 11351

Research and responses

Related Documents File - Typed transcription from the Bulletin of the Noh Research Institute No. 22, 1997, Hosei University Noh Research Institute, published 25 May 1998. By Nishino Haruo. Translated by Rachel Payne, Pembroke College, Oxford, October 1998: The text given by Professor Nishino associated with number 346 should actually belong to 1884.114.117 (old number 3311). I have therefore transferred this text to 1884.114.117. The text in Professor Nishino's notes shown alongside the illustration of mask number 346 he has incorrectly given the number B.VI.72. The correct text from Professor Nishino which relates to mask 1884.114.52 is as follow: (NOTE: I NEED TO CHECK WHETHER THE TEXT FOR THIS MASK IN NISHINO'S NOTES IS LISTED AS B.VI.72-11 OR B.VI.72.21 AND THEN INSERT HERE [JN 23/10/2001] It appears that Prof Nishino got this piece muddled with another piece, therefore his descriptions need to be changed. [JN 13/1/2003]

Typed report on the Noh masks [1884.114.7 - 58 and 116 and 117] drawn up by Jeremy Coote. In this listing the notes are listed under the heading A, B and C refer as follows:

A = as listed on a 19th century description possibly printed in Yokohama, B = on the list compiled by T.K. Penniman from information from Arthur Waley's 'The No Masks of Japan' Henry Joly's "Legend in Japanese Art' and V.F. Weber's 'Ko-ji Ho-ten'. C = from information provided 17 June 1993 by Professor Fukushima Kazuo, Director of Research Archives for Japanese Music, Ueno Gakuen College Tokyo following a visit to the PRM in 1984. 1884.114.52 Identified as: A 'A woman transformed into a devil' B 'Myoga Aku-jo naughty old man'. Inscription.

One of a set of 52 Noh or No masks for which the Museum also holds 51 silk covers (1884.114.59 - 109). An old label, surviving only as a photograph (NEG A9.F27.32; see RDF), listing all the masks in this collection, reads as follows:

'Old Japanese Masks used in the No-dances and other Theatrical performances, both religious and secular.

'The following is a description of the Masks, printed in YOKOHAMA:-

'These Masks were recently on view at the Exhibition at KIYOTO, the former capital of Japan, to which they were loaned by the owner, who is proprietor of a theatre in TOKIO. There are said to be only two superior collections in Japan, both of which are in the possession of ex-DAIMIOS. These Masks have been used in the No-dances and other Theatrical performances, both religious & secular, for many years. They were made by Buddhist Priests during their leisure hours, & the ages of the Masks, as given below, shew their antiquity.'

'[The List follows; see RDF for this and other identifications.]

'Notwithstanding the high taste for Art displayed in Japanese works the entire absence of nobility and elevation of character in all representations of the human form cannot fail to strike the observer.'

The masks were also identified by T. K. Penniman, from information gleaned from Arthur Waley's 'The No Masks of Japan', Henri Joly's 'Legend in Japanese Art' and V. F. Weber's 'Ko-ji Ho-ten'. See RDF for this and other identifications. [JC]

According to Margaret Coldiron who saw this mask in 2001, this particular mask is not a woman transformed into a devil (as described on 19th century listing - see above). [JN 13/1/2003]

Please note, the original list of these masks has been found and is in Solander Box 2. [MdeA 2/2/2001]

Search terms: Mask, Theatre and Drama