Antique Wax Head attributed to Matsumoto Kisaburo

19th Century Japanese Meiji Iki mask A Japanese Meiji period Iki mask dated from the late 19th Century, depicting a dynamic expressive human face, with glass eyes and hair and a burn...

Early 20th century fairground figure In the form of Benito Mussolini this early 20th century hand carved French fairground knockdown figure is in or...

Japanese Edo Period Ko-jo Mask of an Old Man, ca. 1820 Edo Period (1603-1868) DIMENSIONS: Length: 15” (with beard) Length: 8” (without beard) Height: 4” Width: 5.5” ABOUT A Japanese Edo Period (1603-1868) Ko-jo Mask of an Old Man refers to a traditional theatrical or ceremonial mask crafted during Japan’s Edo period (1603–1868). Here's a breakdown of what this object typically represents and why it's significant: The term "Ko-jo" (or Kojo) roughly translates to "old man" or "aged person" in Japanese. A Ko-jo mask often portrays the face of an elderly man, typically with exaggerated age features: deep wrinkles, sagging skin, a long nose, bushy eyebrows, and sometimes a beard. These masks are usually used in Noh, Kyogen, or folk performances, and occasionally in Shinto rituals. In Noh theater, masks are used to express character types, moods, and spiritual roles. The Ko-jo mask might represent a wise elder, a spirit of age and wisdom, or even a deity. In Kyogen, which is the comedic counterpart to Noh, old-man masks are used more playfully, often satirizing elderly characters in lighthearted scenes. The Ko-jo mask may also symbolize ancestral reverence or longevity, tying it to folk beliefs and ritual performances. Edo period masks...

A large and heavy fired clay (terracotta) head of an Arhat (also known as Luohan in Chinese). The followers of Buddha who achieved the enlightenment, statues of Arhats are always fou...