Description

小倉宗広 Ogura Soko (b1969) 孫次郎 Magojiro - Young Female Mask / Japanese Traditional Noh Wooden Carving Mask with Double Box VA866

小倉宗広 Ogura Soko (b1969)
Born in Tokyo. In 1983, he became a disciple of his father, Ogura Soei, and began crafting various masks including Noh masks, Kyōgen masks, and Kagura masks. He served as Chairman of the Japan Artists' Association, President of the Noh Mask Craftsmen's Association, and was a member of the Japan Artists' Club. He has held solo exhibitions both domestically and internationally, receiving awards such as the International Arts and Culture Prize.

孫次郎 Magojiro
This female mask represents a young woman, said to have been created by Kongōdayū Magojiro of the Kongō school during the Muromachi period, capturing the likeness of his wife who died young. Compared to the komen mask, it features a longer face and is characterised by a richly beautiful and lustrous atmosphere, particularly notable for the deep vermilion applied to the lips.

This finely carved Japanese Noh mask represents Magojiro, a rare and expressive female mask despite its masculine name. The name derives from Kongō Ukyo Hisatsugu, a historical mask carver also known as “Magojiro,” who created this mask in memory of his late wife. As such, the mask embodies a female spirit, and is also known by the poetic name Omokage (“reminiscence”). The mask’s serene and melancholic expression conveys grace, introspection, and emotional depth, making it suitable for roles depicting spiritual presence, memory, or quiet sorrow. Its subtle features allow for nuanced emotional shifts under stage lighting, a hallmark of Noh performance aesthetics. This piece is crafted by Ogura Soko (b. 1969), a renowned sculptor and Noh mask artist, former professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, and a registered member of the Japan Artists Association Federation. It comes with a double-layered wooden box (nijubako), protective cloth pouch, and an official certificate of authenticity, confirming its status as a genuine and registered work.

Dimension: 5.2" x 2.9" x 8.3" / 13.4cm x 7.5cm x 21.2cm

Technique: Carving
Material: Wood

Weight: 1420g including Double Box

Condition

Antique items have originally crease, stain, damage, and more. I would like you to refer to the listing photos, but please understand that it's difficult to show all conditions by the photos. Special notes: SCRATCH, DIRT.

About colors of the photos

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