Japanese Wood Bugaku Mask of Korobase Edo Period

A striking Japanese carved wood mask with polychrome paint and lacquer surface. This rare mask is dated to the Edo period (first half of 19th century and possibly earlier). The mask was for Bugaku performance (a clandestine court dance reserved exclusively for the court) which is accompanied by Gagaku (Elegant Music). The mask was made for a performance called "Eight Fairies from Mount Kunlun" and worn by the main character Korobase (crane). The story tells the eight crane deities dwelling in the Kunlun Mountains in China came to visit the court of the Japanese emperor. In two groups of four, the performers, befitted with fan-shape hat, this bird-like mask, robes with carp scales, dance like cranes. A small gold bell is tied to the beak of the mask, making the sound like the crane calls.
Beautifully carved, the avian mask was painted in reddish-orange and black with the areas around the eye highlighted in gold. There is significant patina with layers of paint worn off in several protruding areas, revealing the green underpaint and even the natural wood base. The back of the mask is lined with lacquered black linen. A paper label retains with the title in Kanji as described above and with several undeciphered red seals.
We dated conservatively the mask to the late Edo period (first half of 19th century). It is quite possible that it is older.
A nearly identical Korobase type mask dated to the 17th century is in the collection of Boston Fine Art Musuem, Accession no. 11.5920.