𝐊𝐨-𝐎𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞

Noh mask of Ko-Omote
Carver: Omiya Sanemori Yamato

Seal engraved by burning: “Tenka ichi Yamato”
Signed on the reverse in gold lacquer “Tōkai Gaishi” by the former owner Yamauchi Yōdō* Gaishi (Tōkai Gaishi), the feudal lord (daimyo) of the Tosa clan

Yamauchi Toyoshige (山内 豊信?, 1827-1872) was a prominent daimyo of late Edo period Japan. He is also known by his gō "Yōdō" (容堂). As lord of the Tosa domain of the Shikoku region, he carried out reforms with the samurai Yoshida Tōyō. During the purge of Ansei (1858-1859), he was released on probation and then retired. In 1862, he was named sanyo (参与). In 1867, he advised the shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu to carry out the Taisei houkan (return of the emperor to power).

Ko-omote is a noh mask representing a girl in the first blush of womanhood. The full cheeks, engaging, full-lipped smile, dimpled chin, and eyes that swerve up at the sides suggest an outgoing, engaging personality. The "caterpillar" eyebrows are painted high on a full forehead and the black hair parted in the middle has three loose strands on each side etched out with a carving tool. Ko-omote is used both for supporting roles tsure ツレ by all schools of noh and for main shite シテ roles portraying young women by the Kita and Konparu schools.