Japanese Nō mask of Chōrei Beshimi 長霊癋見 in ceramic – signed Hōtokusai 芳徳斎 – traditional theater – Shōwa period

📏 Features

• Type: Traditional Japanese mask – Nô theater
• Character: Chōrei Beshimi (長霊癋見)
• Category: Beshimi-men (癋見面): closed-mouth mask, associated with powerful, spectral, or supernatural figures
• Signature: Seal engraved inside the mask, in the shape of a hyōtan — traditional Japanese gourd — signed Hōtokusai 芳徳斎
• Material: Japanese ceramic, beige-brown patina, painted black highlights, glossy finish in places.
• Attachment: Side holes with red textile cord.
• Dimensions: approx. 17 × 14.5 × 7.5 cm
• Weight: 360 g
• Origin: Japan, found in Hiroshima prefecture
• Estimated period: late Shōwa era 1990
• Condition: Very good overall condition; decorative patina, no apparent damage.

The character of Chōrei Beshimi in Nô

This Japanese mask represents Chōrei Beshimi (長霊癋見), an expressive type from Nô theater, recognizable by its firmly closed mouth, round eyes, and intense expression.

It is notably associated with the character of Kumasaka Chōhan, a legendary brigand from medieval Japan. In the play Kumasaka, this bandit leader returns as a spirit to recount his last battle against the young Ushiwakamaru, the future Minamoto no Yoshitsune.

The mask therefore does not represent a mere thief, but a powerful theatrical figure: a being between the human and spectral worlds, at once fierce, grotesque, and profoundly dramatic.

Sculpture and expression

This mask presents a face very characteristic of the Beshimi type: wide forehead, prominent nose, hollowed circular eyes, full cheeks, black mustache, and tight mouth with a contained expression.

The ceramic here imitates the warm appearance of patinated wood, with beige, brown, and black nuances that accentuate the facial reliefs. Depending on the angle and light, the expression seems to change: sometimes menacing, sometimes mischievous, almost human.

The artisan Hōtokusai 芳徳斎

The mask bears the signature of Hōtokusai, a Japanese artisan identified by the seal 芳徳斎.

His work is mainly associated with ceramic Nô masks, with decorative pieces inspired by the traditional Japanese repertoire. Here, the seal takes the form of a hyōtan, a Japanese gourd often linked to luck, longevity, and ritual or popular objects.

🦝 Our opinion

A very beautiful Chōrei Beshimi Japanese mask, at once decorative, expressive, and rich in references to Nô theater.

Its ceramic material gives it a different presence from traditional wooden masks: denser, shinier, almost sculptural.

An ideal piece for lovers of Japanese art, collectors of Nô masks, or for characterful Japanese decoration.

👉 Discover this piece alongside other treasures in our collection Japanese Decoration & Art Objects.