Mizteek
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posted on December 7, 2000 08:02:29 PM
I recently obtained a very old looking box with these items in it. They look like enamelled necklace parts. There are 5 separate faces, each measuring about 1 1/2 - 2" in length. They fit into a perfectly shaped for each one, recession in the box. Box looks to be secured with two toggles that may be bone or ivory.
They're nice, but I have no clue as to what they are. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/preview/mi/mizteek/ORIENT.jpg
Thanks Joice: I think if you click on the image now it will show up. I'd still like to get it loading into the message. This has been a good learning experience. Will get onto it yet!
[ edited by Mizteek on Dec 7, 2000 08:40 PM ]
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virakech
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posted on December 7, 2000 08:11:51 PM
can't see the image
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Mizteek
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posted on December 7, 2000 08:15:13 PM
Can anyone tell me how to get an image to show in your posts? I am still searching for information on how to display images that are hosted by AW in the post on the message boards.
I tried using <img></img> and <url></url> (square brackets, of course) and the image is still not coming up.
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virakech
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posted on December 7, 2000 08:24:08 PM
maybe copy your image location...then put it in here:
[ img ] here [ /img ]
but no spaces
crap crap crap
[ edited by virakech on Dec 7, 2000 08:25 PM ]
[ edited by virakech on Dec 7, 2000 08:26 PM ]
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joice
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posted on December 7, 2000 08:25:54 PM
Mizteek,
Here is a helpful thread:
http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&thread=284158
If your username is Mizteek for image hosting then try the code with this url:
http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/preview/mi/mizteek/orient.jpg
Hope that helps!
Joice
Moderator.
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Mizteek
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posted on December 7, 2000 08:32:23 PM
Thanks Joice: I think if you click the link above the image will come up now. Still working on getting it to load into the message. Will go and read the other thread now.
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Mizteek
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posted on December 7, 2000 08:42:52 PM
Whew! Finally got it. Now if I can just remeber what I did! Thanks again Joice for your help in both messages I posted tonight!
Now, if you could just tell me what these things are I'd have a good sleep tonight
[ edited by Mizteek on Dec 7, 2000 08:44 PM ]
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Mizteek
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posted on December 7, 2000 08:56:32 PM
Oops - double post - sorry!
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mzalez
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posted on December 7, 2000 09:35:08 PM
They represent Japanese demon masks, probably for theatrical use...maybe kabuki or noh...really cool!
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victoria
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posted on December 7, 2000 09:37:03 PM
I don't know what they are, but I like them.
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Mizteek
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posted on December 7, 2000 10:09:18 PM
mbalez: Thank you very much for the information. Would you have any idea of the age of these pieces or it they are still being produced today? I want to list them on eBay but have no idea as to how to describe them or attract a bidder's interest.
I'm curious as to why these are made in what appears to be enamelled jewelery pieces. They almost look like they should hang from a necklace.
The maker must have intended them to be well cared for as the box is quite elaborate and the pieces nest into them in a secure manner.
Any leads as to where I could do further research on these?
And again, thanks for the info!
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mzalez
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posted on December 7, 2000 10:26:26 PM
mizteek, it's hard to tell from the photo how old these are. By the way, the more I look at these (especially the box), it is possible that they may also be Chinese. The one in the middle is definately a demon mask, along with the one on the right and on the left. The other 2, with the white faces (red mustache and green mustache) seem to be officials or men of some sort of authority--maybe a priest or mayor. There is both good and evil here. Maybe they are characters from a specific story? Oh, I wish my mother could see, she would know for sure (we are from Japan). Try doing a search on kabuki or noh and see what comes up on Yahoo--maybe you'll see some familiar faces.
Cloisonne (spelling I'm not sure) is an enameling art practiced in China and Japan. Little filigree wires are soldered onto a base, and then they are filled with special powders and then fired. The powders fuse. It's really painstaking. The art is very old, but it is still being practiced today.
This was probably sold as a souvenir set. The buyer could use them in jewelry if they wanted to, or whatever else they wanted.
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Mizteek
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posted on December 7, 2000 10:38:23 PM
mzalez: Just finished checking some noh masks and these don't look anything like them.
The kabuki masks all seem to be more feminine.
I'm hoping these are cloisonne, as I can feel (just very slightly) some raised lines on the surface.
It is interesting to note that these masks all have full beards that are squared off at the bottom. Wonder what the significance of that might be?
Just came back to edit this and try to add one more image.
This is an unfinished plaster mask that I have. I believe it is a noh KYOGEN mask, possibly Otafuku?
At any rate, it is very different from the ones shown above.
[ edited by Mizteek on Dec 7, 2000 10:58 PM ]
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MrJim
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posted on December 8, 2000 09:28:14 AM
They are Peking Opera masks, made of cloisonne and are available as souvenirs at the Peking Opera houses in Beijing and from street vendors. Inside the opera they are about $5, from the street vendors they are about $2. (of course there is no telling what someone would be willing to pay) The box is silk brocade and the clasps are bone.
http://www.chinapages.com/culture/jj_htf.htm
http://www.goodorient.com/goodorient/intofacmakin.html
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Mizteek
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posted on December 8, 2000 04:58:40 PM
MrJim: Thank you so much for the information. I really appreciate AW members willingness to share their knowlege on this board.
I guess I'm not going to become a bizillionaire with the sale of these, but then, I feel rich already having learned so much from the replies to this post that I just may keep them for "posterity." (Mine!)
Now, I hope I'm not pushing it here, but I have another mask that I am trying to identify. I recently acquired a hodge-podge collection of assorted oriental piece and have managed to catalog most of them, but some of these have me stumped.
Can anyone clue me on on this guy?
Any help on this guy would be greatly appreciated!
[ edited by Mizteek on Dec 8, 2000 05:01 PM ]
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Shoshanah
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posted on December 8, 2000 05:50:39 PM
The Japanes version of "Miss Piggy"???? wink-wink
********************
Gosh Shosh!
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rifkah/
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chococake
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posted on December 8, 2000 06:09:15 PM
Shosh - you certainly are in good form tonight. You're really making me laugh!
All I can say is that sure is an Oriental thingy. There must be some special person that would like to have it. LOL
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chenillec
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posted on December 9, 2000 12:32:05 AM
Hi, Mizteek. Your first photo belong to Chinese opera faces. Each face/character represent has a meaning to it. If you study Chinese opera, you can tell by the face, what it mean. Maybe if you do a search under chinese opera on internet. Perhaps it can give you lots of information. Your second and third photos belong to Japanese. I am not sure what they are. Your fourth photos are Japanese characters, they are not Chinese. I am not sure what they mean. Perhaps you know someone Japanese, they can help you.
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chenillec
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posted on December 9, 2000 12:37:38 AM
After looking at your first photo the second time. I know all of five faces/characters are male. The one on the right with red face representing military man, general figure. The one next to it with black hat representing scholar. All the faces mean some sort of powerful figures.
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Mizteek
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posted on December 9, 2000 07:25:01 AM
chenillec: Thanks for the info! Again, I really appreciate your help!
Shoshanna: The second guy is what I am going to look like right after I finish my Christmas dinner!
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Crystalline_Sliver
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posted on December 9, 2000 10:40:51 AM
Kabuki Theater has forbidden the use of Women as Actors for over 600 years. That's why the Masks of Kabuki and Noh look like male faces; Males play the parts of both the men AND women.
As for the writing, I'd say it's in both Hiragana and Kanji. I'll run it by one of my neighbors and she what she says.
:\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
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