Fudo mask

Noh theater, Japan

7 inches, painted ceramic

One of the less-known characters in the Noh plays is Fudo, the God Spirit. Made of fired clay, this unusual mask was intended for display at home facing the interior of the house to ward off unpleasant occurrences. True theater masks are carved out of smooth, light-weight wood and can be worn comfortably for a long time. Most Japanese masks are decorative and can be made out of a variety of materials. The ones used by the actors stayed in the family until they wear out, and the prized ones by renowned carvers are in Japanese museums.

Note that it was broken in half and rather crudely repaired. In spite of the crack, this mask looks pretty good on the wall.