【Important notes】 ・International buyers are responsible for any import duties, taxes, and charges not included in the item price or shipping cost. Please note that VAT paid to Catawiki is separate from and does not cover import duties or customs charges in your country. You may still be required to pay additional fees upon delivery, as determined by your local customs authorities. ・Shipping Details: Most items are shipped via Japan Post EMS (airmail). If you are in a hurry, we can arrange shipping via DHL or FedEx upon request for an additional fee. ・Damage and Issues: If you receive a damaged item, please contact us immediately. The damage must be reported to your local post office within 7 days of delivery, and promptly to us and Catawiki support. 【Product details】 A rare pair of Japanese Suinkyo masks from the Showa period, made in the tradition of A traditional pair of Japanese Suinkyo (素隠居) festival masks from the Showa period (1926–1989), made using the Kurashiki hariko (倉敷張子) papier-mâché technique. The pair represents Jiji (爺, old man) and Baba (婆, old woman), two beloved characters associated with the traditional festivals of Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. Suinkyo figures appear during the annual festivals of Achi Shrine in Kurashiki. Their distinctive, bulbous, shallot-shaped faces have slightly eerie yet humorous expressions. Baba, the old woman, is distinguished by her hair, while Jiji, the old man, has prominent eyebrows. According to local tradition, the custom originated in 1692, when an elderly couple who could no longer climb the steep shrine steps arranged for younger people to wear masks representing them and participate in the festival procession on their behalf. During the festivities, Suinkyo figures walk through the streets carrying traditional shibu-uchiwa fans, gently tapping people on the head. This is believed to bestow wisdom, good health and longevity, particularly upon children. Both masks are made of traditional papier-mâché (hariko), with glossy painted surfaces, black-painted reverse sides and natural plant-fibre hair and eyebrows. Their expressive features and traditional craftsmanship make them appealing examples of Japanese regional folk art. Good vintage condition with signs of age and use. There are light surface wear, including marks around the forehead and cheek areas, as well as some wear and irregularities to the painted surface. The reverse sides show stains and wear. There are also minor imperfections around the ear areas and some looseness or irregularity in the fibre hair attachments. Please examine the photographs carefully for details. ※Important: For Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco and Portugal, orders of €150 or less cannot currently be shipped due to the new €3 customs duty/IOSS issue. There is no confirmed resumption date. Please do not bid unless you are prepared to wait. Orders over €150 are not affected. Dimensions: approx. H 29 cm W 26-26.5 cm D 11.5-12.5 cm ・Please make sure to review all the provided information, description, and images before placing your bid. The items shown in the photos are what is included in the lot. If anything shown as included is missing upon delivery, please contact us immediately. ・Some display stands or other items in the photos may be photography props and are not included in the sale. Please read the description carefully to confirm what is included. ・We make every effort to accurately represent the product's colors and textures in our photos. However, due to differences in monitors and device displays, as well as photographic conditions, slight color variations between the photos and the actual product may occur. We ask for your understanding in advance. Thank you for your interest, and happy bidding!