Hand-Painted Scroll with Noh Theater Masks

Hand-painted Japanese handscroll, ca. 1880s, with images of Noh theatrical masks, musical instruments, costumes, and actors. The beautifully crafted scroll is constructed around a glass spool, of several layers of handmade paper, with an outer layer of patterned gold silk and a purple ribbon and bone fastening. Upon opening the scroll, twenty-five individually mounted pictures are revealed one by one, each approx. 10.5 inches (26.5 cm) wide. The images include 9 of Noh masks, 3 of beautifully colored drums, 3 of theater props, 2 of hats, and 8 of actors in costume and masks, many with captions in Japanese characters. The masks and musical instruments are hand-colored, while the drawings of actors are in ink, with occasional small accents of color. In the original wooden box with lid, with calligraphy on the lid and end, and a green ribbon fastening. An interesting scroll commemorating the rich tradition of the Noh theater, which dates back to the 14th century.

Scroll measures 8 inches x 24.5 feet (20 cm x 7.5 m) unrolled; the box 10.5 x 2.75 x 3 inches (26.7 x 7.2 x 7.7 cm) when closed. (12937)

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Art

Art & Design

Theater

Culture, Ethnicity & Gender

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