Finely Hand Carved Antique Wooden Japanese Mennetsuke Netsuke Mask Okame Noh

  

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER LISTINGS! This is a stunning finely carved antique wooden Japanese Netsuke Mask of Okame. It appears to be carved out of Yew wood in the traditional Ichii-itto-bori method of only using chisels.

It measures approx 1.25 x 1, and has a sliding piece in the back which hides a view of the lower half of a female form. There is a small chip in the wood on the backside where it slides open but is in overall beautiful condition!

Okame, also known as Uzume or Otafuku is the name for the female half of a traditional Japanese Kyogen theatre pair. She is considered to be the Goddess of mirth and is frequently seen in Japanese art. Her full cheeks and merry eyes are an unforgettable sight and a delight to behold.

Netsuke is both the singular and collective term given to the intricate miniature sculptures and wood carvings that became hugely popular in Japan, and later in Europe and North America, from the 17th century onwards. Mennetsuke or mask netsuke are another common design. These are netsuke carved to resemble traditional characters familiar from Noh theatre, a form of classical masked dance-drama which became popular in Japan from the 14th century onwards.