Japanese theatre mask

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Ornamental No mask - Hannya, late 19th century
East Asia, Japan
Bronze and gold metal

Donated by Frank Rough, 1961
Museum no: 1961-644

In the tradition of Japanese No theatre, masks were used to represent various 'types' of people. Characters, male or female, were played by men. Hannya, seen here, was once a beautiful woman transformed through jealousy into an ugly demon.