A JAPANESE NOH MASK OF KOTOBIDE

Edo period, 18th century
Polychrome pigments and gesso over wood, printed paper label to reverse, `Exhibited at the Fine Arts Society's Japanese Exhibition', inscribed `Anderson, 25', 20.5cm high. The label on the reverse of the mask is likely to refer to the loan exhibition of Japanese art held at the Fine Art Society, 148, New Bond Street, London in 1888. The inscribed `Anderson' across the label is probably that ofWilliam Anderson ( 1842-1900), an English surgeon and important collector of Japanese Art.