A Noh demon with a snake wound through its horns.
The 3D Japanese Hannya Mask and Snake Pendant is carved fully in the round rather than raised off a plate. Two long horns sweep up from the temples and taper to polished points, and the face beneath them is worked hard: a deeply furrowed brow folded into sharp ridges, wide staring eyes, flared nostrils over a broad hooked nose, and a grin pulled back over rows of teeth with long fangs at the corners. Pointed ears sit at either side, each hung with a small loose ring.
The snake is what ties the piece together. It rears up between the horns with its jaws open and its own fangs showing, then winds back over the crown, around one horn, down past the cheek, and coils beneath the chin with the tail curling clear at the bottom.
The carving separates the snake's back scales from its belly — a diamond lattice along the spine, banded scutes underneath — which is the sort of detail most castings at this scale skip entirely.
The reverse is worked as well: the coils continue around the back of the mask rather than stopping where they leave sight.
Everything is left in a fine satin with polish saved for the brow ridges, the nose, the teeth and the snake's head, so the modelling holds shadow instead of flaring out under light.
The bail is hidden — set behind the horns so nothing interrupts the mask from the front, with a 5mm opening.
In Noh theatre the Hannya is the mask of a woman consumed by jealousy and grief until she becomes a demon. Read from below it looks enraged; tilted down it reads as sorrowful. The same carving does both.
Why You’ll Love It:
-
Carved in the Round – A full three-dimensional mask, finished around the back
-
Snake Through the Horns – Head rearing between the horns, body coiling to a free tail
-
Back and Belly Scales – Diamond lattice above, banded scutes beneath, cut separately
-
Hidden Bail – Concealed behind the horns so the face reads uninterrupted
-
No Stones, No Plating – Gold in 10K through 24K, yellow, white or rose
The chain shown in the photographs is not included.
Made to order, turnaround time is typically 2-4 weeks.
Specifications
| Dimensions |
1.75” in height including the hidden bail |
| Bail Opening |
5mm, concealed behind the horns |
| Chain |
Not included |
Estimated Weight by Purity
| Purity |
Approx. Weight |
| 10K |
37.5g |
| 14K |
42.5g |
| 18K |
50.0g |
| 22K |
58.1g |
| 24K |
62.5g |
Approximate Weight Notice
Due to the handcrafted nature of our jewelry and natural variations in gold alloys, listed weights are approximate. Minor differences may occur from piece to piece. These variations are a normal part of fine jewelry production and reflect the individuality of each item. For any changes or questions, please use the "Custom Work" page.
