$8,500
Sold
sold
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Description
11 1/2" (29 cm.) including base and crown). Each having carved wooden ball-shaped (so-called ping-pong) head with gofun finish, and simplistically-painted facial features in style known as "line eyes - dash nose", painted black hair in stylistic skull cap style emphasizing the rounded head shape, posed seated on original stands and wearing finely woven and embroidered costumes, she with embroidered crane on sleeves, hand-painted fan and crown, and he with black silk outer coat (ho) and black lacquer Eboshi cap. Excellent condition. Edo period, late 1700s. The uniquely-carved style originated with the doll maker Jirozaemon of Kyoto, who was appointed an official supplier to the imperial family, and whose dolls were avidly sought by the imperial elite. This rare early pair is notable for its exceptional detail of costuming, and intriging historical attribution which Alan Scott Pate describes as "perhaps the most idiosyncratic of the various hina forms". (Japanese Dolls, The Fascinating World of Ningyo, page 71).