Carved Wooden Gosho Brothers, Presentation Ribbon on Younger, Early 1800s

Live Auction

6 1/2" (17 cm.) l. 4 1/2" h. Both are all-wooden with gofun finish and well-defined painting of facial features; the little brother detachable peg-mounted in piggy-back style to the back of his older brother who is merrily crawling forward. The larger brother has unusual painted detail of hair feathering at the crown and in front of each well-modeled ear with applied silk fringe locks, and the smaller brother has painted presentation ribbon (mizuhiki) on his crown, with sidelocks and bald pate. The brothers wear original (matching) silk bibs (haragake), and the smaller also wears a silk crepe sleeveless jacket. Generally excellent with beautiful sheen of gofun albeit some minor age darkening. Edo period, lst half century of 1800s.