Jeff Olson
Director
Lot 1025
A rare and unusual Nanban somen Momoyama period (16th/17th century)
8 October 2013, 13:00 EDT
New YorkUS$10,000 - US$15,000
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A rare and unusual Nanban somen
Momoyama period (16th/17th century)
The mask forged in iron and lacquered russet-brown designed as the face of a nambanjin (Portuguese) with uchidashi eyebrows and ears, the full lips laquered red
The mask forged in iron and lacquered russet-brown designed as the face of a nambanjin (Portuguese) with uchidashi eyebrows and ears, the full lips laquered red
Footnotes
Exhibited:
Louisville, The Frazier History Museum, "Samurai, The Flowering of Japan", 2012. 5.12.—9.30
Published:
Andrew Mancabelli and David Pepper, Samurai, The Flowering of Japan, exh. cat., (Louisville, 2012), pg. 37
The arrow deflector flanges on the cheeks terminate well above the cheek line proving that they are original to the mask and that this mask was originally conceived as a somen. The overall size is rather small but the eye openings are large, allowing for peripheral vision and the large mouth and nostril holes allow for breathing. The dark russet lacquer finish is unaltered from its original form.