Okijiro Hironari, School of Katsushika Hokusai, c. 1802 Japanese Woodblock of Kyogen Theatre Actor with Mask right time toy was the costume designer for

was the costume designer for a local production of the play

but it is really fantastic and I've tired

though well worn

which I think perfectly complements the handle

There is a signature at the base of the rear side which I figured out is that of German-born Nina Koch Winkel (1905-1990)

Okijiro Hironari, School of Katsushika Hokusai, c. 1802 Japanese Woodblock of Kyogen Theatre Actor with Mask right time toy was the costume designer forThe prior owner of this one did well to tape a description on reverse, identifying it as the work of Okijiro Hironari, an artist among the circle that studied under ukiyo e master Katsushika Hokusa(1760 1849, and dating the woodblock to the very beginning of the 19th century. The portrait is of a Kyogen actor Kyogen a form of traditional Japanese comic theatre (a bit like commedia dell'arte) that developed alongside Noh theater and was performed as an