Seven Masks for the Noh Drama and Kagura Dance

Seven Masks for the Noh Drama and Kagura Dance
Chujo: Edo period (1615-1868), late 18th/early 19th century; the rest Showa (1926-1989) and Heisei (1989-2019) era, 20th century
Each of carved wood, variously painted and lacquered, comprising: 1) Hannya (She-Devil), with prominent gold horns, 21.5cm (8½in); 2) Shojo (Drunken Spirit), with flesh-coloured gesso finish, signed inside Heisei sannen nigatsu Tsuda Hiroshi saku (Made by Tsuda Hiroshi in February 1991), 20.5cm (8in); 3) Chujo (Young Nobleman), with off-white gesso finish, wrinkled brow and high eyebrows, 20.5cm (8in); 4) Tengu (Crow Demon) with a large suggestively formed nose, painted red and with gold details and horsehair whiskers, the reverse with an illegible carved seal, 24cm (9½in); 5) Akujo (Evil Old Man), finished in off-white gesso and red pigment, with wrinkled brow and horsehair whiskers, the reverse with a carved seal Noki, 22cm (8¾cm); 6) Kojishi ('Child Lion'), with wide-open mouth and gold-lacquer finish, 20cm (7 7/8in); and 7) Okina (Old Man), with vegetable-fibre eyebrows and wispy horsehair beard, the reverse with a carved seal Hanyu Mitsunaga, 20cm (7 7/8in). (7).