Tsuba with Five Noh Masks
(Japanese Military Armor)
The five masks shown on this tsuba are used by performers in noh drama. At the upper right is the "Okina" mask used for specific types of old men. At the lower right is the "Ko-omote" mask used for beautiful young women. The mask at the lower left is the "O-beshimi" mask used for demons. On the reverse, the mask as the upper left is the "Hannya" mask of a jealous woman who has turned into a demon. The "Hiottoko" mask at the lower right is often used for comic male characters. A fan is at the lower left.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan (Place of Origin)
Measurements
2 13/16 x 2 11/16 x 3/16 in. (7.1 x 6.78 x 0.46 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
51.348