A large red-lacquered wood shishimai mask
Carved by Hasegawa Fujishige and lacquered by Kitagaki Ihei, dated Bunsei 4 (1821)
The broad head with loose lower jaw and large ears, covered with matt red lacquer enriched with black and gilt details, the interior also of red lacquer, dated and signed Iji Bunsei yon kanoto-mi kishu kisshin, Chokoku, Nogi-gun Higashi-akae ju, Hasegawa Fujishige, Masaiki, Sikko, do-gun Yasugi ju, Kitagaki Ihei, Yoshinori (Inscribed on an auspicious day in Autumn of Bunsei 4 [1821], the year of the snake, carved by Hasegawa Fujishige in Higashi-akae of Nogi [present Shimane prefecture], lacquered by Kitagaki Ihei in Yasugi of Nogi). 38cm x 43.2cm (15in x 17in).