THE CARABET COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE JAPANESE DOLLS

Sunday, January 10, 2016Lots 1-242

January 10, 2016 in Newport Beach, California


Some astute American collectors have made the study and careful acquisition of important Japanese dolls their mission. One such collection, features this collection, and in its homage an outstanding 200-page hardbound book has been prepared. Featuring dolls from the Carabet Collection of antique Japanese Ningyō at auction. 10" x 10". Hardbound. 184 pages.

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Showing 1 - 242 of 242

Early Carved Wooden Doll with Four-Articulation Jointing and Provenance, Circa 1850
Outstanding Carved Wooden Mitsuore Lady, Superb Costume, Six Wigs, Late 1800s

Outstanding Carved Wooden Mitsuore Lady, Superb Costume, Six Wigs, Late 1800s

Lot #2

18" (46 cm.) Carved wooden head with elegantly-shaped face, full lower cheeks and chin, fine lustrous gofin finish, inset glass eyes in half-moon shape, painted lashes, slightly-parted lips, defined teeth, wooden body with slender torso and limbs (except original silk crepe padded upper arms), and with flat-cut jointing at hips, knees and ankles (triple jointing or mitsuore), and concave shaping of back legs to allow extra articulation, elegantly expressive fingers. Wearing vibrantly patterned purple silk crepe kimono with aqua and white patterned flowers, fawn-spot silk crepe obi with extended back train, and red silk under kimono. She has an elaborate silk fiber wig decorated with tortoise shell comb, that is interchangable with five additional wigs which are included; each wig with ornamental hair ornaments (kanzashi), each with original wooden stand. The orginal box with Namikawa signature is included. Excellent condition. Meiji era, circa 1890, by Namikawa of Kyoto. Kueueya Namikawa who specialized in this model of doll with finely-made wigs of silk fiber or human hair decorated with combs, sticks, hair tools, ribbons, and flowers. Namikawa created luxury dolls for the Japanese market, as well as exporting his works to the Western market as indicated by the English paper label in the doll's original box. The doll is featured in Ningyo, The Art of the Japanese Doll, by Alan Scott Pate, page 217. Rarity factors of the doll include her triple-jointed body articulation (mitsuore) and her interchangable wigs (katsura); to find them both in one doll, and in this impeccable condition with original box bearing the maker's signature is extraordinary.

 
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Sold: $18,000
Miniature Carved Wooden Trio of Court Ladies with Rare Carved Hair, Late Edo Period
Beautiful Carved Wooden Courtesan with Costume and Luxury Plinth, Edo Period
Early Carved Wooden Dolls Known as "Noh-Ningyo", 18th Century, Provenance

Early Carved Wooden Dolls Known as "Noh-Ningyo", 18th Century, Provenance

Lot #5

15" (38 cm.) standing. 12" seated. Each of carved wood with large rounded face in the gosho style, and each with fine lustrous gofin finish, textile upper arms, each with different expression on the carved and painted face and variation of hair style on the human hair wig, highly-defined eye sockets, and defined ears. Each is wearing superb original costume comprising unusual checkered silk brocade trousers with melon crest design, green silk brocade coats (kariginu) patterned with butterflies and peonies and having tie strings at the wrists, and lacquered eboshi-style court caps; the standing doll holds a fan. The trio represent figures from an unidentified Noh drama. Their original box is included. Excellent condition overall, albeit minor restoration on left hand figure. Edo period, late 1700s. This iconic trio is arguably one of the most noted and written-of sets in Japanese doll history, once in the collection of Nishizawa Tekiho, who was curator of the Imperial Household Museum (forerunner of the Tokyo National Museum) and considered the most influential and knowledgeable Japanese doll collector of his day, Documents in the Nishizawa archives date the dolls to 1781. The dolls are shown and described in Ningyo, the Art of the Japanese Doll on page 47 and Japanese Dolls on page 29, both by Alan Scott Pate, and in earlier publications. Ninhon No Ningyo, 1955, page 37, and Ningyo no Sekkai: Gosho Ningyo, 1986.

 
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Sold: $37,000
Carved Wooden Gosho with Painted Presentation Ribbons, Turtle, Edo Period
Exceptionally Rare Grand-Sized Wooden Gosho in Distinctive Pose, Early 1800s
Carved Wooden Gosho Brothers, Presentation Ribbon on Younger, Early 1800s
Extremely Rare Carved Wooden Gosho as Sumo Wrestler, Circa 1880
Early Pair of Imperial Couple in Highly Distinctive Jirozaemon Style, Late 1700s
Carved Wooden Takeda, Narihira, "Bridge over Iris Flowers" Scene, Mid-1880s
Well-Preserved Early Imperial Couple (Tachi-bina) in Rare Large Size, Circa 1850
Diminutive Carved Wooden Gosho with Three-Layered Kimono, Early 1800s
Very Rare Doll (Mitsuore) with Expressive Features and Fine Early Costume, Circa 1850
Delightful Mitate Gosho Depicting Ebisu, the God of Daily Provision
Carved Wooden Mitate-Gosho as Monkey Trainer with Performing Monkey, Taisho Era
Wooden Imperial Couple, Yusoku-Hina, for Imperial Family, Yamashina, Circa 1800

Wooden Imperial Couple, Yusoku-Hina, for Imperial Family, Yamashina, Circa 1800

Lot #18

18" (46 cm.) with cap. Each with carved wooden head and hands, fine gofun finish, painted features, aquiline nose, narrow eyes, heavy eyelids, well defined sky-brows, black-accented teeth, ears, feathering around hair line, black silk fiber hair, rare all-wooden body (he with folded ankles), and posed on original matching cushions. He is wearing distinctive costume of his position composing a billowing outer coat (ho) captured only by a belt and with hidden folds and pockets, layered undercoats of various colors and weaves, purple billowing trousers tied at the ankles and decorated with an undulating weave, and Eboshi cap with diamond patterns that match his inner garment and her outer garment. Her costume also is less formal than court attire, featuring an intricately-woven outer coat that extends 13" in length behind her; her trousers are equally long. Her hair is drawn away from her face into wide wings at the sides and captured into a long braid at the back with hair extensions that reach 40". She carries a hand-painted wooden fan with multi-colored long ties. Excellent condition. Edo period, early 1800s, Yusoku-hina, and bearing the signature X mark of the Yamashina atelier on her tie belt and his collar. The Yusoku imperial couple was often commissioned to the celebrate the birth of a girl in a noble family. The style, with its distinctive colors and weaves was only available to members of the imperial court, according to the Yusoku Manual which defined both costumes and behavior. This extraordinary pair is featured in Ningyo, The Art of the Japanese Doll by Alan Scott Pate, on pages 110-113.

 
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Sold: $35,000
Carved Wooden Courtier in Rarer Standing Pose, Mid-1800s
Carved Wooden Imperial Couple in Rare Small Size, Mid-1800s
Carved Wooden Courtesan with Refined Pose and Nicely-Detailed Costume, Circa 1840
Young Lord on White Horse, Four Attendants, Maruehei, Original Boxes, Circa 1900

Young Lord on White Horse, Four Attendants, Maruehei, Original Boxes, Circa 1900

Lot #22

17" (43 cm.) lord on horseback, 17" l. horse, 10" attendants. Each of the five dolls has sculpted head, gofun finish, glass eyes, and exquisitely-painted detail of painted features, the young lord in seated pose with hands clasped for holding reins, and wearing purple silk crepe kimono with crest design on the lapels, sleeves and back that is a symbol of military nobility, and unique very bold design with gold thread embroidery on the lower sleeves, silk padded cap under gold lacquered jingasa helmet with crest design, and gold brocade trousers. The four attendants are uniquely sculpted and painted, each with distinctively different face, lightly tinted complexion, bald pate with slit-attached silk fiber sidelocks and backlock, mounted standing on pebbled wooden bases with chip-carved edging. They are wearing matching kimonos with crested designs on the lapel, behind the elbows and center of the back (which match the crest on the young lord's kimono), and tightly woven flat hats. The attendants wear identically-styled trousers and inner jacket with a variety of silk fabrics and designs, and each carries two swords. The paper mache horse has a white silk crepe "fur" and real hair mane and tail, silk fiber skirt, purple and white chirimen reins, black lacquer saddle with silk print seat. Meiji era, circa 1900, the processional set is known as Daimyo Gyoretsu. Each year the daimyo lords were obliged to relocate, alternating between residing in their own domain and residing in Edo, in an attempt to weaken their local influence. By 1900, the procession was largely ceremonial, providing a grand festival day for entire communities. The set is impeccably preserved in original boxes, two with original paper label crest indicating the atelier of Maruhei Okiheizo of Kyoto. In the mid-1800s Maruhei Okiheizo became recognized as one of the premier ningyo dolllmakers in Japan, officially designated as supplier to the imperial household of very luxurious ningyo in all categories. To find such a set intact, with signatures by such a noted dollmaker, and extraordinary details such as symbols of nobility on each, signature on original boxes, and wonderful facial modeling with distinctive expression on each is extraordinary.

 
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Sold: $17,000
Wooden Gosho in Black Silk Cherry Blossom Kimono with Rare Yellow Lining, Early 1800s
Superb Large Wooden Dolls in a Rare Youthful-Persons Variation, Mid-1800s

Superb Large Wooden Dolls in a Rare Youthful-Persons Variation, Mid-1800s

Lot #24

22" (56 cm.) Each has distinctively-carved wooden head, lustrous gofun finish with painted facial features, she with modest downcast eyes and he with well-defined gazing eyes, mouths painted as though open with suggestion of teeth, black human hair with painted feathering around the face (the woman with long straight hair to her hips, and the man with elaborately pulled-back hair that is captured in a coil at his crown), formed body, carved wooden hands and feet with one hand sculpted to hold a rake or broom. Wearing superb silk costumes of unusually rich textiles with embroidered designs, the man (Jo) with banded silk trousers, green brocade jacket with phoenix design, red under jacket embroidered with crane and lattice design, holding a gilded garden rake; the woman (Uba) with an extraordinary outer coat (uchigake) with incense designs, obi with plum designs, and a red silk inner panel with heavily embroidered designs of turtle, plum and pine, holding a broom in her right hand. The pair are presented on their original fabric-edged wooden platform. Excellent condition. Late Edo period, circa 1860, representing the classic figures from the Noh performance of Takasago, in which a long-wedded couple, residing under the "pine tree of abiding love" work steadily to freshen, preserve and prolong their love by sweeping and raking away the fallen needles, thus symbolizing the constant renewing of their love. The pair is usually presented as aged; this pair is notable for the youth of its couple, their grand size, luxury details, and superb state of preservation. This pair is shown in Ningyo, The Art of the Japanese Doll by Alan Scott Pate, page 211. Other less luxury examples of the Takasago legend appear as #134 and #207 in this book.

 
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Sold: $13,000
Early Dolls in Rare Size Depicting Empress Jingu, Takenouchi, Infant Ojin, Early 1800s

Early Dolls in Rare Size Depicting Empress Jingu, Takenouchi, Infant Ojin, Early 1800s

Lot #25

21" (53 cm.) including helmet. 15" seated. Each with carved wooden head having very fine lustrous gofun patina, his with ivory-like tones, and with stylized characteristics. Jingu with black silk fiber hair inserted in center crown slit, drawn back and extending to her hips, has painted features with aristocratic detailing including sky-brows (okimayu), carved hands with expressive fingers and carved feet, and is wearing an elaborately-layered silk brocade robe with cloud and dragon motif, and with gilt paper lacquer armor with paulownia crest on chest, carrying a quiver of arrows, bow, sword with fur cover, and with lacquered eboshi and curved boots. Takenouchi, in classic kneeling pose, is wearing silk brocade costume with dragon-crested armor, straw sandals and has wizened aged features enhanced by inset thick grey brows, moustache and beard; he holds the wrapped infant Ojin in his arms. Generally excellent. Edo period, early 1800s. The figures depict the Empress Jingu (the only female figure to be included in Boy's Day displays), her minister Takenouchi, and her infant son, Ojin, the future Emperor. Jingu and Takenouchi wear unusual matching crests (tsuta design) possibly indicating a comissioned set for a family with that same crest. History and legend concerning Empress Jingu are intricately woven and impenetrable, a scholar's pleasure to disentangle. Yet both versions of the life of this remarkable woman, remain compelling story lines to this day.

 
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Sold: $12,000
Very Rare Early Triple-Jointed (Mitsuore) Nodding Gosho, Circa 1800
Carved Wooden Articulated Doll (Mitsuore) with Unique Talisman Bag, Circa 1850
Mechancial Gosho with Fox Mask, with Original Signature and Box, Early 1800s
Mechanical Gosho (Karakuri) as Lion Dancer, Early 1800s
Seven Carved Wooden Musicians, Imperial Court, Signed Boxes, Edo Period

Seven Carved Wooden Musicians, Imperial Court, Signed Boxes, Edo Period

Lot #30

11" (28 cm.) Each has carved wooden head and hands with lustrous gofun finish, painted facial features with refined expression, narrow eyes, teeth, painted sky-brows indicating nobility, black painted pate under silk fiber hair in rare very extended length, and each is wearing a lavish 12-layer padded silk court robe (junihitoe) with extended gauze train (mo) having hand-painted leaf and floral design; the outer jackets feature a chrysantheum pattern, and there are dragons interwoven on the outer sleeves. Notably each face is distinctive, as are the hand which are posed to hold the particular instrument which each plays. The instrument include lute, zither, long flute, short flute, flame drum, drum, and pipe flute, and are executed of particularly fine quality. Excellent condition, minor typical frailty to silk edging on few. Edo period, ealy 1800s, Shichinin-Bayasha. The splendid set is notable for three very distinctive reasons: their luxury grand size, their number of seven figures (usually five), and their being women (usually boys). Too, the sumptuouness of costume, the quality of musical instruments, the unique posing of each body to accomodate to the instrument being played, the superb quality of gofun, and that each owns its original signed wooden box, enhances their value. The set is shown in Ningyo, The Art of the Japanese Doll by Alan Scott Pate, pages 122 and 123.

 
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Sold: $35,000
Rare Diminutive Carved Wooden Doll as Lion Tamer, Early 1800s
Carved Wooden Bunraku Puppet Depicting Osome, Articulated Fingers, Circa 1900

Carved Wooden Bunraku Puppet Depicting Osome, Articulated Fingers, Circa 1900

Lot #32

45" (114 cm.) All-carved wood with rich gofun finish, glass eyes which open and close by lever mechanism in the neck, dramatically-painted features include outlined eyes, open mouth, teeth, accent lines around the nostrils, swivel head on wooden shoulders and wooden hands with articulation at three knuckles which is operated by a lever at back torso. The internal construction allowed the puppeteer to manipulate the figure in intricate ways to depict anguish, horror, piety and devotion, including backward fling of the head, lowering of the eyes, and articulation of the fingers. This figure depicts Osome, playing the role of the merchant's daughter from the Bunraku theatrical play "Osome of the White Tie-Dyed Sleeves" who falls in love with a lowly worker. Her costume is designed to both reflect and constrict her societal position; since the sumptuary laws of Japan forbade her to wear the luxurious embroidered and brocade silks favored by the upper classes, she is adorned in simple fabrics enhanced with ingenious techniques including tie-dyeing. silk crepe with fawn spot, and a dramatic back panel with bells. Excellent condition. Meiji era, circa 1900. Alan Scott Pate writes in Ningyo, The Art of the Japanese Doll, page 237, "over time, this particular costume with its tie-dyed sleeves executed in large blocks of red alternating with a light blue green, with a black satin or velvet lapel, became the stock costume for Osome and a ready signifier of her role."

 
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Sold: $5,500
Carved Wooden Portrait Ningyo of the Celebrated Hero, Kusunoki Masahige, Circa 1850
Carved Wooden Takeda-Ningyo Depicting "Man at Bamboo Wall", Circa 1800
Early Carved Wooden Isho-Ningyo Depicting Chinese Immortal, Costume, Circa 1800
Carved Wooden Takeda Courtier in Sumptuous Silk Costume, Circa 1850
Carved Wooden Laughing Isho-Ningyo, Drum in the Chinese-Style, Late 18th Century
Important Trio of Carved Wooden Child Dolls, Three Classes of Society Early 1800s

Important Trio of Carved Wooden Child Dolls, Three Classes of Society Early 1800s

Lot #38

14 1/2" (37 cm.) standing, and 8" seated. Each has a carved wooden head whose facial shape and expression varies from the other two, gofun finish with fine sheen, painted facial features, black silk fiber hair in classic "tea whisk" style and long forelocks indicating its youthful age. Each has carved wooden gofun-finished hands and feet (the seated ningyo with feet hidden behind). Included are the Merchant, the Nobleman, and the Samurai. On the left is the Merchant (chonin), wearing a brocade surcoat over a kosode kimono; this highly patterned kimono with opulent decorations had evolved from a commoner's jacket and although worn by all three classes, was particularly the province of the Merchant. In the center is the Samurai wearing the matching winged coat and trousers in rare silver paper weave and paulownia regal crest, with decorative elements of netsuke, inro and tobacco pouch. To the right is the Nobleman wearing green silk gauze coat, considered formal wear, and trousers with undulating line weave. Excellent condition. Edo period, early 1800s. The trio was originally sold as a set, known as Fuzoku, and is alternately referred to as gosho style (in reference to rounded shape of head and childlike expressions) or isho style (in reference to the importance of the costumes) and are celebrated for the highly artistic blending of two. Included is the original wooden box and display platform.The trio is featured in Ningyo, The Art of the Japanese Doll by Alan Scott Pate, page 66.

 
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Sold: $17,000
Important Early Pair of Imperial Couple in Superb Gold Lame Brocade, Early 1700s
Carved Wooden Portrait of Kato Kiyomasa in Superb State of Preservation, Late 1800s
Carved Wooden Ningyo Depicting Ebisu, The God of Daily Provisions, Circa 1860
Carved Wooden Laughing Isho-Ningyo in a Lively Animated Scene, Late 1800s
Rare Grand-Sized Gosho-Ningyo with Elaborate Presentation Ribbon, Early 1800s
Diminutive Carved Wooden Ministers (Zuijin) of The Left and The Right, Circa 1870
Carved Wooden Ministers of The Left and The Right, Early 1800s
Portrait Ningyo of the Legendary Poet Courtier, Tenjin, Early 1900s
Outstanding Carved Wooden Courtesan (Oiran) and Her Procession, Mid-1800s

Outstanding Carved Wooden Courtesan (Oiran) and Her Procession, Mid-1800s

Lot #47

15" (38 cm.) courtesan, 12" attendants, 13 1/2" male chaperones. Each has carved wooden head, hands and lower legs, and is mounted on pebbled wooden base, The courtesan with glass eyes, refined nose, green accent on lips, teeth, silk fiber hair in elaborate upswept fashion ornamented with tortoise-shell decorations (two in the shape of a fan), and wearing superb costume comprising purple silk outer kimono (uchigake) with embroidered crane and wave designs, inner red kimono with embroidered wisteria pattern, and with six interior kimono collars with embroidery, six kimono hem borders whose padding was designed to allow a more sensuous presentation when strolling, and platform sandals (geta). Her elaborate obi, tied in front to indicate her role and status, is richly embroidered, including gold threads, with design of a dragon amidst swirling clouds (the dragon with glass inset eyes). Her lady attendants are apprentice courtesans (kamuro) and have painted facial features including accented green lips, silk floss hair with different coiffure and hair ornaments and are wearing rare matching costumes of red silk crepe (chirimen) with cherry blossom design, fawn-spotted silk obi, and platform sandals (geta). Also included are two male chaperones with unusual highly-distinctive features, each with different expression, glass inset eyes, bald pate with stylized black silk fiber hair inset at the sides and as topknot, thickly-padded silk plaid or striped kimono with unusual red, white and blue streamers on the side of obi, bare feet, one with umbrella, and one holding a staff. Excellent condition. Late Edo period, circa 1860. The artistry and luxury quality of this Courtesan Procession indicates her status as a high ranking courtesan (Oiran-Gyoretsu), The five-person set is remarkable to find complete and has exceptional details of characterization, textiles, accessories, presence, and fine state of preservation.

 
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Sold: $11,500
Carved Wooden Takeda- Ningyo Inspired by Kabuki Theatre Performance, Circa 1850
Carved Wooden Two-Figure Takeda Tableau, Legend of Otohime, Circa 1850
Carved Wooden Fashionable Lady with Triple-Jointed (Mitsuore) Articulation Circa 1880
Petite Carved Wooden Fashionable Lady (Bijin) with Double-Jointed Legs, Circa 1900
Carved Wooden Bijin, Double-Jointed Legs, Silk Crepe Hand-Painted Kimono, Circa 1900
Five Carved Wooden Court Figures in Matching Costumes, Rare Elderly Man, Mid-1800s
Carved Wooden Portrait Doll Depicting the 16th Century Japanese Emperor, Circa 1925
Fabulous Pair of Carved Wooden Playful Gosho in Rare Matching Costumes, Early 1800s
Extremely Rare Carved Wooden "Imperial Nunnery Gosho", Standing Pose, Circa 1770
Very Rare Standing Imperial Couple (Tachi-bina) with Superb Presence, Early 1800s
Pair, Tachi-Bina Imperial Couple in Original Box, Circa 1920
Carved Wooden Folk Style Imperial Couple in Rare Diminutive Size, Circa 1870
Carved Wooden Portrait Doll of the Tea Server, Sen no Rikkyu, Costume, Circa 1830
Grand-Sized Musha-Ningyo Portraying Legendary Yoshitsune, Costume, Early 1800s
Carved Wooden Woman Known as Yamauba with Bare-Breasted Costuming, Circa 1900
Carved Wooden Gosho Doll, Samurai NobilitY, Jade Miniature Netsuke, Early 1800s
Superb Portrait Ningyo of Jimmu Ten'no, First Emperor of Japan, by Maruhei Okiheizo
Superb Portrait Ningyo of Jimmu Ten'no, First Emperor of Japan, by Maruhei Okiheizo
Carved Wooden Yusoku-Style Imperial Couple, Atelier of Maruehei Okiheizo, Circa 1950
Talismanic Wooden Doll (Hoso-Ningyo) with Characteristic Red Hair, Circa 1800
Carved Wooden Iki-Ningyo Portraying Wearied Samurai Warrior, Meiji Era
Carved Wooden "Beautiful Lady" with Sacred Treasure Motif on Obi, Circa 1912
Carved Wooden "Beautiful Lady" (Isho-Bijin) with Unusual Western-Style Parasol
Carved Wooden Courtesan Procession, Oiran and Her Attendants, Circa 1920

Carved Wooden Courtesan Procession, Oiran and Her Attendants, Circa 1920

Lot #70

10" (25 cm.) and 9". Each having carved wooden head, expressively-posed hands and feet, glass eyes, painted features over rich gofun complexion, rudimentary body form, and original wooden stand. The courtesan (oiran) has elaborate silk fiber hair with long strands gracefully arranged at her front torso, a formal arrangement of hair at the crown and back of head that is decorated with metal foil hair ornaments, and painted feathered hair tendrils around the forehead. She is wearing a vibrant red silk kimono (uchigake) with embroidered trailing cherry blossoms and having long red tasseled sleeve ties, purple brocade obi secured with red cord string (obi-jime), red silk inner kimono with padded hem, raised sandals (geta), and a silk cosmetic purse (hakoseko) which holds additional hair pins. There is a young attendant in training wearing a purple crepe yuzen-dyed kimono with autumnal leaf pattern, red an gold brocade obi, carrying fan pouch, and with elaborate hair decorated with combs and a gilded metal hair comb/ear cleaner. The second, more matronly, attendant is wearing a distinctive open kimono (uchigake) of blue silk brocade with cherry-blossom patterned pale green silk under-kimono, sandals, and has elaborate hair combs, fan, cosmetic bag, and gilded metal hair comb/ear cleaner. Excellent condition overall. Taisho era, circa 1920. The trio is featured in Japanese Dolls by Alan Scott Pate, page 125 who notes "structurally, emphasis was placed on the heads - finely executed features and immaculate coiffures - and on a sophisticated presentation of the textiles, positioning them to their greatest advantage."

 
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Sold: $17,000
Pair, Carved Bone Imperial Court Couple in Rare Tiny Size, Mid-1800s
Rare Wooden Fashion Lady (Isho-Ningyo) with Maker's Signature, Early 18th Century
Carved Wooden Gosho-Ningyo in Standing Pose with Rare "Growth" Kimono, Circa 1800
Carved Wooden Gosho-Ningyo, Long Side-locks and Matching Cap and Bib, Mid-1800s
Rare Trio of Wooden Gosho-Ningyo in Noh Theatre Parody, Circa 1800
Two Carved Wooden "Beautiful Ladies" (Isho-Bijin) in Sumptuous Costumes, Circa 1920
Wooden Seated Court Page (Sandai-Chigo) with Distinctive Hair Style, Circa 1880
A Trio of Carved Wooden Court Ladies-in-Waiting with Original Accessories, Circa 1930
Carved Wooden Diminutive Figure in Black Silk Kimono, Late 1800s
Portrait of Jimmu Ten'no, Legendary First Emperor of Japan by Okiheizo, Circa 1930
Sculpted Samurai Mounted Atop a White Horse, Circa 1900
Carved Wooden Courtesan (Oiran) in Stunning Silk Costume with Attendant, Circa 1820

Carved Wooden Courtesan (Oiran) in Stunning Silk Costume with Attendant, Circa 1820

Lot #82

28" (71 cm.) Courtesan. 20" Attendant, The courtesan has a carved wooden shoulderhead with slender and refined shape and pose of face, elongated throat, gofun finish, narrow enamel eyes with heavily-defined eyelids, painted detail of hair feathering around the sides of face with a widow's peak at the center forehead, black silk fiber hair that is very elaborately-arranged and decorated with silk crepe (chirimen) in a fawn-spot pattern, tortoise hair combs. and tinsel. She is posed in an elegant, yet sensuous, manner with carved wooden hands and feet and outstretched arms and is wearing an exceptionally lavish costume of silks and brocades with padded-hems, pale green inner kimono having red silk crepe panels, red brocade outer kimono (uchigake) arranged as though falling off her shoulders and accented with silver threads (ginran), and a superb brown brocade obi with chrysanthemum pattern that ties at the front to signify her high-ranking courtesan status. The courtesan appears to be advising her young attendant who stands modestly alongside, with gofun finish, enamel eyes, painted features including feathering of hair around her forehead, with black silk fiber hair arranged elaborately in a coiled topknot and decorated with chirimen bows, silver paper flowers and tinsel, and wearing a floral-patterned silk crepe kimono with padded hem, and brown brocade silk obi with silk crepe ties, holding a gilt metal hair ornament. The pair are posed on original wooden black lacquer base. Generally excellent. Taisho era, circa 1920. The pair are notable not only for their grand size, but also for superb details of costume and coiffure.

 
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Sold: $7,500
Carved Wooden Imperial Couple as the Classic Kokin-Bina of the Meiji Era, Late 1800s
Early Carved Wooden Portrait of Hideyoshi in Elaborate Armor, Circa 1840
Wooden Carved Portrait of Jimmu Ten'no with Elaborate Accessories, Mid-1900s
Carved Wooden Seated Samurai with Finely Detailed Costume, Circa 1870
Carved Wooden Nara-Ningyo Dancer, Early 1900s
Carved Wooden Bunraku Puppet Depicting a Sambaso Dancer, 20th Century
A Trio of Miniature Carved Wooden Kamo-Ningyo, Mid-1800s
Miniature Carved Wooden Doll with Painted Costume, Early 1900s
Miniature Carved Wooden Kamo-Ningyo with Rare Painted Presentation Ribbon, Mid-1800s
Rare Larger Pair of Carved Wooden Kamo-Ningyo with Toy Hobby Horse, Late 1800s
Miniature Paper Mache of A Young Boy Hoisting a Carp Banner, Early/Mid 1900s
Miniature Paper Mache Ichimatsu Doll in Silk Crepe Kimono, Early 1900s
Miniature Paper Mache Doll with Signature Costume and Toy, Early 1900s
Miniature Paper Mache Doll as Butterfly Dancer with Drum, Early 1900s
An Exceptional Original Pair of Ichimatsu Dolls with Artist Signatures, Mid-1900s
Carved Wooden Lady (Kyoto-Bijin) with Beautiful Robes in Seated Pose, Early 1900s
Carved Wooden Lady (Kyoto-Bijin) with Beautiful Robes in Seated Pose, Early 1900s
Carved Wooden "Beautiful Lady" with Exquisite Face and Shapely Legs, Circa 1900
Takeda-Ningyo Depicting Empress Jingu, Takenouchi no Sukune, Matched Ensemble
Carved Wood Young Man in Kneeling Pose with Crane-Patterned Kimono, Circa 1850
Carved Wood Young Man in Kneeling Pose with Crane-Patterned Kimono, Circa 1850
Carved Wooden Portrait Doll of the Historic Hero Yoshitsune, Early 1800s
Gosho-Ningyo as Parody of Odori Folk Dancers with Ribbon Painting, Circa 1915
Carved Wooden Diminutive Gosho in Standing Pose, 1930s
Carved Wooden Kimekomi-Ningyo, 1930s
Petite Carved Wooden Standing Gosho, Late 1800s
Diminutive Carved Wooden Gosho with Eboshi Cap, Late 1800s
Diminutive Carved Wooden Gosho with Delightful Pose and Costume, 1930s
Carved Wooden Gosho-Ningyo with Hobby Horse (Haru-koma), Early 1800s
Carved Wooden Character (Isho-Ningyo) Depicting a Dancing Boy, Mid-1800s
Pair of Carved Wooden Ningyo with Variations of Facial Expression, Early 1900s
Early Carved Wooden Ningyo as Falconer, Late 18th Century
Very Rare Carved Wooden Presentation Doll (Uizan-Ningyo), 18th Century
Very Rare Grand-Sized Portrait Ningyo of Empress Jingo and Her Minister

Very Rare Grand-Sized Portrait Ningyo of Empress Jingo and Her Minister

Lot #114

35" (89 cm.) Each with carved wooden head with gofun finish and finely-painted facial features (she with "sky-brows") including Empress Jingu, posed standing, wearing a finely-wrought gauze outer robe with interwoven gold threads in a scroll foliate pattern, a silk crepe (chirimen) breastplate with metal crest of a dragon and with black velvet detail and repeated lion (shishi) ornamentation which is repeated on the thigh guards, and with fur boots and gold brocade hakama trousers, Eboshi cap, thick purple silk crepe obi, and carrying a reed battle fan (gumbai). And her attendant Takenouchi no Sukune, with sculpted wizened features and white silk fiber hair, beard and moustache, posed seated on camp stool, wearing a silk brocade outer robe with dragon and cloud motif, black velvet detailing and repeated shishi, blue silk brocade trousers with cloud and lightning pattern, yellow silk crepe obi, red silk crepe armature, white silk under-kimono with flying crane designs, black lacquered Chinese style cap with scroll motif, silk brocade shoes with toe block, and carrying a battle fan (gumbai) which matches hers. Generally excellent. Edo period, circa 1800. Depicting the Empress Jingu and her minister Takenouchi, in rare combat pose and with rare matching battle fans (most extant examples are in post-combat pose, he holding the baby). History and legend concerning Empress Jingu are intricately interwoven and impenetrable, remaining a compelling story to this day. The pair are shown in Japanese Dolls, The Fascinating World of Ningyo by Alan Scott Pate, page 87.

 
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An Elaborate Musha-Ningyo Yoroi Suit of Armor Including Weapon Stand, Mid-1900s
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Footmen from Girl's Day Celebration (Hina Matsuri) in Original Wooden Box, Late 1900s
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Six Carved Wooden Heads
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Pair, Miniature Doll in Playful Scene with Hobby Horse, Early 1900s
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