TWO JAPANESE LACQUERED WOOD MASK NETSUKE

TWO JAPANESE LACQUERED WOOD MASK NETSUKE
EDO/MEIJI, 19TH CENTURY,

The first carved as a miniature noh mask of Ko-Beshimi, the male face with tight lips and a furrowed brow, with traces of lacquer and gilt to the eyes, the reverse signed Tenjo; the other depicting an octopus-like face, also with remnants of lacquer; 4.5cm and 4.6cm respectively. (2)

Provenance: both from the netsuke collection of Peter E. Müller; the first numbered no.78, the other no.176.