| This pair of menuki depicting Hannya and oni masks is by Hamano Masanobu, the fourth master of the Hamano family. Masanobu was born in An'ei 2 (1773). He studied under Nobuyuki, the third master of the Hamano family, and was later adopted by him. In Kansei 5 (1793), he succeeded as the fourth master of the family and assumed the name Tarobei. He used the art names Otsuryuken, Miboku, and Reifudo. The omote menuki depicts a Hannya mask, while the ura menuki depicts an oni mask. Both are boldly modeled in high-relief katachibori on shakudo, with the cords attached to each mask rendered three-dimensionally. The menuki are finished entirely in the deep black tone of shakudo without the use of colored-metal decoration, a style known as mushaku. This restrained treatment emphasizes the fierce expressions of the masks, particularly their piercing eyes, prominent brows, noses, and mouths. Despite their small size, the menuki powerfully convey the intimidating character of the Hannya and oni masks. This pair of menuki passed the Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu shinsa in 1997. |
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