Noh Mask

MOA: University of British Columbia

3139/17 a-b

Carved wooden Noh mask of “Ko-tobide”. Deeply carved face with two bulging gold eyes, and a wide mouth showing teeth. Painted with straggly hair, moustache and eyebrows. The skin is a greyish-peach colour and the lips are red. There is a dark purple cord on the back of the mask attached through small holes at each side. There are holes carved in the eyes, nostrils and mouth. The back of the mask is dark brown wood stamped with the maker’s mark. Part b is a light green fabric bag for part a, decorated with embroidery in various shades of green and brown. The inside of the bag is white fabric, with black ink Japanese characters. The white ties on the bag also have black Japanese characters written on them and a small red maker’s mark. In addition to the fabric ties there is a flexible paper strip which also has Japanese characters inscribed on it.


  • Type of Item mask
  • Culture Japanese
  • Material wood, silk fibre, paint, paper
  • Measurements height 9.8 cm, width 13.0 cm, depth 21.5 cm (part a) height 2.0 cm, width 24.0 cm, depth 26.5 cm (part b)

  • Previous Owner U.B.C. Centre for Japanese Research
  • Received from U.B.C. Centre for Japanese Research

  • Made in Japan

  • Ownership Date before October 1, 2015
  • Acquisition Date on October 1, 2015

  • Condition good
  • Accession Number 3139/0017 a-b