Vintage Iwami Kagura Aragami Mask in Display Case | 76 cm

This exceptionally large decorative Iwami Kagura mask is presented as an Aragami mask (荒神面). Its expressive face, sharp teeth and powerful design give it the intense appearance associated with the theatrical world of Iwami Kagura.

Iwami Kagura is a vibrant form of traditional dance theatre from the Iwami region of Shimane Prefecture. Its performances bring stories from Japanese mythology to life through music, dance, elaborate costumes and expressive masks. In addition to masks made for performances, larger examples were also created as decorative, symbolic or commemorative objects.

According to the inscriptions on the display case, this decorative mask was presented to commemorate the construction of a monument in 1977 honouring Toshihisa Yamane, a local historian who researched the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine in Shimane Prefecture. The story behind the commemoration, together with information about Yamane's life and work, is inscribed on both sides of the wooden case.

According to these inscriptions, Yamane was appointed to the former Ōda Middle School in 1926. He explored the then neglected mining site, gathered accounts from local residents and copied historical documents preserved by longstanding local families. In 1932, he privately published a study on the Iwami Silver Mine.

In 1977, his former students erected a monument at Iwami Ginzan in recognition of his research and his efforts to preserve the history of the silver mine. Yamane died in 1979 at the age of 83. No separate documentation accompanies the object; its historical context is based on the inscriptions found on the display case.

With its impressive scale, powerful expression and unusual historical reference, this is a distinctive collector's piece at the intersection of Japanese folk art, regional heritage and the history of Iwami Ginzan.

Dimensions

Display case:
Height: 76 cm
Width: 46 cm
Depth: 24 cm

Each vintage piece in our collection has a story and carries traces of its past. Please examine the photographs carefully for an honest impression of its condition and any signs of use.