$4,250
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Description
12" (30 cm.) Karakuri gosho-ningyo (mechanical palace doll) of papier mache covered in gofun with silk fiber hair arranged in a male style with two long side locks and a long forelock pulled back, painted details, depicted seated with left leg thrust out to the side, wearing a sleeveless chirimen silk crepe vest with embroidered details over a green silk brocade haragake bib, sexed figure, holding a mask depicting Otafuku/Okame (the goddess of mirth) with full cheeks and bulging forehead adorned with okimayu skybrows and blackened teeth and painted hair. When knob at the back torso is turned the arms raise in unison pulling the mask to the face. Minor staining. Edo Period, 19th century. Exhibited: Mingei International Museum (2005). Published Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll, p. 39. Okame/Otafuku is one of the most beloved images in the Japanese pantheon of gods and goddesses, bestowing mirth and merriment. It was Okame who danced a ribald jig, bringing sunlight back into the world after Amaterasu, the sun goddess, had petulantly hid herself away in a cave.