Delightful Mitate Gosho Depicting Ebisu, the God of Daily Provision

Live Auction

5" (13 cm.) h. 7" width of doll. 12" width base. Of carved wood, the gosho has large rounded head with painted features, laughing expression, teeth and fine lustrous gofin finish. Depicting a seated gosho with right foot extended and left foot doubled backward, hands held in front with pull-string for toy wagon, inserted forelocks and bangs, sexed, and wearing original embroidered silk bib (haragake) with ties at his back. He is pulling a wooden cart decorated with two sea bream fish amidst violent waves. The gosho is string-mounted on original wooden stand, and has original box. Excellent condition. Early Meiji era, circa 1875, notable for fine state of preservation on the well detailed features. So popular was the gosho doll during the 19th century that doll artists sought to expand the original concept of the doll which was as an omen of auspicious wishes. One such concept was the mitate-gosho, that is an imitative parody of a legendary hero or story. This is one example as Ebisu, the God of Daily Provision, is portrayed as a cheerful child bringing home the fish for dinner.