$2,600
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sold
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Description
10 1/2" (27 cm.) Karakuri gosho-ningyo (mechanical palace doll) holding a fox mask, of papier mache covered overall in a fine gofun with painted details, depicted seated with legs thrust forward with big toes slightly flexed, wearing a chirimen silk crepe sleeveless vest with dense embroidered flower designs over a simple silk brocade haragake bib in green, and sporting a silk brocade cap, holding silk cords attached to a papier mache mask of a fox. When a knob at his back is turned, his arms rise in unison placing the fox mask over his face. Replaced mask strings, minor in-painting on fox ears. Edo Period, 19th century, Exhibited Mingei International Museum (2005), Morikami Museum (2012). Published in Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll, pp 36-37. While most gosho-ningyo were display dolls meant to be admired but seldom handled, karakuri gosho were toys meant to be used and enjoyed. By fashioning them out of papier mache, doll artisans created a form that was both more affordable as well as more durable than the more sophisticated all-wood forms.