Antique Chinese Opera Mask Nuo Character Tudi Gong Late 19th Century

Description

Antique Chinese Nuo folk opera mask of Tudi Gong, circa late 19th Century. Provenance: purchased from Elliott Bay Antiques in Seattle, in the 1990s. Polychromed wood, with nice patina. Some minor polychrome flaking (light flecked spots). Glue reinforced fracture along inner top edge (last photo), as purchased from Elliott Bay Antiques.  Please see photos for condition. Measures 11" H x 6-3/4" W x 4" D.
Tudi Gong, the Lord of Soil and Grains, is one of the main characters in the Nuo opera, usually represented with a smiling face, and beard (in this case the beard is missing; only a couple of stubble threads remain near upper lip - but holes are visible on chin where the hair was fastened).
Vintage condition
. A
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