Yasuo Nakamura; Naomi Maki — Nomen / Noh Masks

Shinshindo Kyoto First Edition Near Fine Condition 43cm x 31cm. 161 pages, 180 plates, index. Lettered wrappers, portfolio of plates mounted in folders, cloth clamshell with 2 bone clasps, papered box. Text is in Japanese. A beautifully presented collection of masks used in the classical Japanese dance-drama Noh. Each plate, photographed by Naomi Maki, is mounted in an individual folder with tissue guard, housed in a portfolio case, and includes an index sheet. An accompanying explanatory volume written by Yasuo Nakamura goes into detail on the subject, as well as containing black and white photographs of the reverse sides of the masks. The portfolio and accompanying volume are housed inside of another cloth clamshell with two bone clasps, which in turn is housed in another box. Yasuo Nakamura (1919-1996) was a Japanese high school teacher, junior college professor, and Noh scholar, producing numerous works on the subject from the 1960s until his death. His scholarship on this collection of masks earned him the Geijutsu Sensho Prize from The Agency for Cultural Affairs. Text is in Japanese. Minor bumps to two corners of the exterior box and some minor wear to its edges with a <1cm closed tear to the middle of one edge. Interior is Near Fine Condition with very minor wear to the edges of some of the plate folders and creasing to the edge of the tissue guard for plate 90. There is a single small hole to the tissue guards of plates 127 and 140. The plates, book, and interior portfolios are complete and in Fine Condition. Category: Performing Arts; Performing Arts::Theatre & Plays; Performing Arts::Dance; Asia|Japan; 20th Century: 1970s; Japanese Language; Art & Design. Inventory No: 0016250.