AYAKASHI, MASK OF THE NOH THEATER

By Master Sculptor Iseki Jir Zaemon Chikamasa

His Signature Engraved On The Inner Side

JAPAN

Wood, pigments, gilt metal (eyes) ; lacquer (on the inner side). Height: about 20 cm.

Estimated date : late Muromachi era - Momoyama era, 16th century - early 17th century.

Iseki Jirōzaemon Chikamasa was the second head of the family of the Ōmi Iseki house, a famous guild of mask carvers that produced major artists already before the Edo era, including himself. Many of his masks are preserved in temples and shrines in Japan. Ayakashi, sometimes confused with Mikazuki, most often embodies the vengeful role of the ghost of a dead warrior. For example Ayakashi portrays in the second act of the play Funa Benkei the vengeful ghost of Taira no Tomonori, a famous commander who chooses to kill himself rather than to be captured by throwing himself into the sea with an anchor tied to his foot, following the decisive battle lost against the Minamoto clan and which will see the destruction of the Taira clan. This mask made by Iseki Jirōzaemon perfectly embodies the character, a great, almost supernatural tenseness emanating from the bony features and the gleaming eyes. The beautiful painted decoration on a deep orange-brown base is very possibly original and from the generation of the mask; it shows some old local repairs (on one place upper part of the forehead on the right side, part of the bridge of the nose, tip of the chin...).

Sculpture Bioma

GROUPES ELEMA OR URAWA

RIVIÈRE ERA, RÉGION DU GOLFE PAPOU

PAPOUASIE NOUVELLE GUINÉE

Bois sculpté, pigments. Hauteur : 75 cm, largeur : 28 cm. Datation estimée : 19e siècle – début 20e siècle.

HISTORIQUE DE COLLECTION TRANSMIS : Collection de Monsieur André, France, Alain de Monbrison, Paris, France, Collection particulière, France.

A Bioma Figure

ELEMA OR URAWA GROUPS

ERA RIVER, PAPUAN GULF, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Carved wood, pigments. Height : 75 cm, width : 28 cm.

Estimate date : 19 th century – early 20 th century.

HISTORY OF COLLECTION REPORTED TO US : Mr André collection, France, Alain de Monbrison, Paris, France, French private collection.

Sculpture Songye

R Publique D Mocratique Du Congo

Bois, pigments ; cuir, fibres. Hauteur : 28,7 cm.

Datation estimée : 19e siècle – début 20e siècle.

HISTORIQUE DE COLLECTION TRANSMIS : Collection famille Wouters, Belgique, acquise entre 1930 et 1950,

Songye Sculpture

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Wood, piments ; leather, fibers. Height : 28,7 cm. Estimate date : 19 th century – beginning 20 th century.

COLLECTION HISTORY REPORTED TO US : Wouters family collection, Belgium, acquired between 1930 and 1950.

CUILLÈRE ORNÉE D’UNE EFFIGIE POSSIBLEMENT NOOTKA

POPULATION AMÉRINDIENNE COLOMBIE BRITANNIQUE, CANADA

Bois à profonde patine brun-clair, traces de pigments rouge. Hauteur : environ 30 cm. Datation estimée : 19e siècle.

HISTORIQUE DE COLLECTION TRANSMIS :

Merton Simpson, NYC, USA, Collection Saul et Marsha Stanoff, Los Angeles, USA, acquise du précédent dans les années 1990, Collection particulière.

PUBLICATION :

The Saul and Marsha Stanoff collection, Sotheby’s New York, 17 may 2007, lot 72.

EFFIGY SPOON, POSSIBLY NOOTKA

AMERINDIAN POPULATION, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Wood with a deep light-brown patina, traces of red pigments. Height: about 30 cm. Estimated date : 19 th century.

COLLECTION HISTORY REPORTED TO US :

Merton Simpson, NYC, USA, Collection Saul and Marsha Stanoff, Los Angeles, USA, acquired from the above in the 1990s, Private collection.

PUBLICATION :

The Saul and Marsha Stanoff collection, Sotheby’s New York, 17 May 2007, lot 72.