Important – Please Read Before Bidding For a smooth and secure transaction, please carefully review the following information before placing a bid. ⸻ ● Import Taxes & Customs Duties All customs duties, import taxes, and customs clearance fees are the responsibility of the buyer. VAT paid on Catawiki is separate from local customs duties and import taxes. Please check with your local customs office in advance. ⸻ ■ Shipping & Packaging All items are shipped from Japan via Japan Post EMS (insured). If EMS is not available for your country, a private international courier will be used instead. Items are carefully packed to withstand long-distance international shipping. ⸻ □ Tax Code Requirement (EU and certain regions) After purchase, buyers may be required to provide a tax code (such as VAT number, fiscal code, etc.). Failure to provide the required tax code may result in customs delays or return of the parcel. ⸻ ◆ Damage & Shipping Issues If the item arrives damaged, please contact your local post office and Catawiki Support within 3 days of delivery. Before leaving feedback, please contact us first so we can assist you appropriately. ⸻ (Shipping to the United States) Currently, EMS shipping to the United States is suspended. A private international courier will be used instead. Please note that items containing batteries or bladed tools may not be eligible for shipment. ⸻ All items are shipped from Japan. Japanese Netsuke Mask Set of 2｜Signed｜Noh Mask & Skull Mask (Rare Motif)｜Ceramic｜Edo-style Folk Art ⸻ 【Description】 This lot consists of a set of two Japanese netsuke masks, traditional miniature accessories used in Japanese dress. Both pieces are made of ceramic and depict a Noh mask–style face and a skull mask, the latter being a particularly rare and uncommon motif in netsuke. Both netsuke bear a maker’s signature (signed) on the reverse, indicating that they were created with artistic intent rather than being anonymous mass-produced items. Especially the skull-themed netsuke are produced in limited numbers, and examples such as this are seldom encountered on the market. Netsuke developed during the Edo period (17th–19th century) as functional toggles used to suspend inro, pouches, or tobacco cases from the obi, as traditional Japanese garments had no pockets. Over time, netsuke also evolved into highly refined miniature sculptures, valued for their craftsmanship and artistic expression, and are now regarded as an important field of Japanese folk and decorative art. Masks as a motif in netsuke are closely associated with Noh theatre, religious symbolism, and spiritual expression. The Noh mask–style piece represents human emotion and inner spirituality through a restrained and symbolic facial expression. In contrast, the skull mask symbolizes impermanence, life and death, and Buddhist concepts of transience. As a subject for netsuke, skull imagery is especially rare and sought after. The Noh mask–style netsuke features a tense, controlled expression with striking white eyes, evoking the atmosphere of classical Japanese performing arts. The skull mask is carved with a strong sense of realism, with detailed teeth highlighted by subtle coloring, giving it a powerful presence despite its small size. Both pieces have cord holes on the reverse, confirming their traditional netsuke construction. A red cord is currently attached, and the set is housed in a partitioned wooden box; these elements may have been arranged at a later time for storage and preservation purposes. ⸻ Size (approx.) • Noh mask: height approx. 43 mm • Skull mask: height approx. 45 mm (Please refer to the caliper measurements shown in the photographs.) Material • Ceramic Condition • Natural age-related wear and minor surface soiling • No major chips or cracks observed • Please refer to the photographs for detailed condition Notes This lot is offered as a set of two pieces only. Individual sale is not available. With its signed workmanship and the inclusion of a particularly rare skull motif, this pair represents a compelling addition for netsuke collectors, enthusiasts of Noh theatre, Japanese folk art, and traditional accessories.