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Source Description
This tsuba depicts three masks and a fan used in traditional Japanese performing arts. The mask in the upper portion of the tsuba is the "hannya" mask used by noh actors portraying vengeful women. A fan is shown near this mask. The lower mask is a "buaku" mask, which was used in comic kyogen plays for demons or minor deities who are not as intimidating or powerful as they may seem. On the reverse is an "usobuki" mask. This mask is also used in kyogen plays for both human and spirit characters.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
5916
label
Tsuba with Three Noh Masks
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
2
Source metadata
id
5916
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Tsuba with Three Noh Masks
description
This tsuba depicts three masks and a fan used in traditional Japanese performing arts. The mask in the upper portion of the tsuba is the "hannya" mask used by noh actors portraying vengeful women. A fan is shown near this mask. The lower mask is a "buaku" mask, which was used in comic kyogen plays for demons or minor deities who are not as intimidating or powerful as they may seem. On the reverse is an "usobuki" mask. This mask is also used in kyogen plays for both human and spirit characters.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
n.d.
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Arms & Armor
tsubas
sword components
imageCount
2
pageCount
2
source
import
dimensionsRaw
3 in. (7.6 cm)
Source extras
cul
Japanese
inscriptions
none
med
copper, gold and silver
creator_ids
6194
collection_ids
JMA
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
99cfda27e58a3d39
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
66e0f62573e396d2
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no