Vintage Hand-Carved Wooden Oni Mask – Japanese-Style Folk Art, c. 1950–1970 A606

This is an excellent example of the traditional Japanese male mask, Buaku, finely carved in the mid-20th century. Buaku is one of the characters of the Japanese comic theater, Kyogen, that is commonly associated with demonic roles. Although the mask presents a fearsome expression, it's nothing but a farce, because humor is at the heart of the Kyogen play. Carved from a single piece of wood, the mask displays bold sculptural detail, including deeply furrowed brows, large, round eyes, a broad nose, and an exaggerated, open mouth revealing sharply carved teeth.

The natural woodgrain is prominently visible across the entire surface, giving the piece a warm, organic character and enhancing its expressive, almost animated appearance.

Weight/Size: 315.7g; 9" x 6.5" x 3 3/4"