Vintage Japanese Geisha Katsura Okimono Theatre Hair Wig & Case

Description

Vintage Japanese katsura or hair wig, elegantly styled for use in Noh theatre or by a geisha. The elaborately styled hair is decorated with embellishments of red and metallic silver paper ribbons, a yellowed plastic hair stick, and bow in metallic gold and silver. Wig features a metal frame inside to support the weight of the hair, and cloth ties. White wooden wig stand slots into black carrying case.

“Kazura (katsura) is a synonym for a wig used in Noh, and every female role uses one. Kazura was once made of human hair, but horsehair has also been used in recent years.”

“Post-WWII, geisha began to wear wigs (known as katsura) instead of styling their own hair, a trend which continues to this day. Geisha generally wear shimada-style wigs known as geigi shimada (芸妓島田), geiko shimada (芸子島田) or chū takashimada (中高島田). This style is distinguishable from the shimada that brides wear by its generally flatter and thinner appearance; the bin are smaller and less rounded, the mage is placed further back on the head, and the tabo is longer and thinner; the maegami is also typically not as full. Geisha katsura are styled to suit each individual's face, meaning that no two geisha katsura appear alike, whereas bridal shimada are typically rented and pre-styled, leading to less variation than is seen in the katsura geisha wear.

The style of shimada worn by older geisha to special events is known as the tsubushi shimada (潰し島田, lit. 'smashed shimada'). This style of shimada, worn by older women in previous centuries, is the flattest form of the shimada, with the mage pushed relatively far back off the head, appearing somewhat squashed with the usually-open loop of the mage crushed to form two smaller, tighter loops of hair.”

Condition

Good Overall – Gentle wear; some dust

Dimensions

Case - 14” x 11.5” x 15.5” / Wig Approx - 12” x 9” x 13.5” (Width x Depth x Height)