Used for tengu roles in Kurama Tengu, Zegai, Kuruma z, Dairokuten, and Daie, where it is worn under a shaka mask and therefore called shaka shita. First created by the thirteenth carver Shakazuru Yoshinari. A good standard obeshimi mask is owned by the Mitsui family, Tokyo, and a fine early Muromachi example with smaller eyeballs and rounder face belongs to Nara Zuihiko Shrine. Small damage to the upper left of the mask: a small crack and loss of bronze.
To my knowledge these would have originally come with a small cotton twine in their pupils to hang them on the wall... More often than not these strings are missing. This one has a newer, replacement string. A standard push-pin pushed into drywall allows these to easily hang on the wall snug and flat.
Measures 5.0 x 4.0 cms. The item "Antique, Fine Details, Japanese/Japan Bronze, Netsuke Mask (Mennetsuke) Obeshimi" is in sale since Wednesday, February 6, 2019. This item is in the category "Antiques\Asian Antiques\Japan\Netsuke".
The seller is "cosmic_goods" and is located in Freeport, Maine. This item can be shipped worldwide.