*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.

This listing is for a vintage wood carving made around 30-40 years ago.  It is hand-carved and depicts the female lead character from the kabuki and noh play titled ‘Momijigari’.  In this play a beautiful woman and her attendants are out viewing autumn leaves at Mt. Togakushi in Shinano Province.  Taira no Koremochi, a warrior from the Taira clan, sees the group of women having a banquet.  Wishing not to disturb them, he dismounts from his horse and quietly leads it past the group.  The woman sees him and beckons him to drink sake with her.  Koremochi becomes drunk, but the woman forces him to drink more.  Her dance becomes more and more furious in tempo, changing from moderate to frantic.  After Koremochi falls asleep the woman abandons him, saying never to wake from his dream.  A deity from Hachiman Shrine visits Koremochi during his sleep, and reveals to him that the woman is actually an oni (demon), and instructs him to kill the woman using a divine sword.  Koremochi seeks out the woman who has now transformed into a fire-breathing oni, and after a pitched battle, he slays her with his sword.  During this scene in the play the character of the woman is wearing a wig of brightly coloured crimson hair, and is wearing a shikami mask.  A shikami mask is similar to Hannya, the most noticeable difference being no horns.  The wood-carving in this listing depicts the woman as the fire-breathing oni, and it is carved from a single black of wood and mounted on a stand. 

Size

H.27.8cm (10.9”) x 21.6cm (8.5”) across x 10.7cm (4.2”) from back to front

Condition

It’s in very good condition aside from the left thumb is missing, and there’s some light surface wear on the board.  The screws on the bottom also need tightening.

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Asia:  Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-21 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico:  EMS Express 10-15 days.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.