Gigaku mask

Japan

11.5 inches, painted ceramic

Gigaku is an ancient dance drama that was brought to Japan from the mainland in the early 7th century. Typically the masks have a more dramatic expression and usually portray lion heads, bird-beaked creatures, demons and super humans. This one is Ryou Oh, a famous king and fierce warrior. It makes for a scary, but rather handsome, wall mask. Or it could be Garuda, the famous god who is also revered in Indonesian and Indian cultures.