Boxwood netsuke depicting a Hannya or Hashihime mask, Japan, Edo period

Small Japanese netsuke in carved boxwood depicting a Hannya mask—sometimes identified as Hashihime, the woman on the Uji Bridge—a symbol of female jealousy in Noh theater. The face, tense with anger, shows the mouth open over sharp fangs, prominent cheekbones, and a wrinkled forehead. The carver took advantage of the boxwood's tight grain to achieve a deep polish, enhanced by the amber patina.

The back, hollowed out with a single smooth compartment without signature, testifies to a sober and ancient work, characteristic of the workshops of the Edo period (18th–19th century). With its expressive force and the purity of the modeling, this piece perfectly illustrates the art of netsuke inspired by Noh theater, where human emotion mixes with the supernatural.

Height: 4 cm.