Early Dolls in Rare Size Depicting Empress Jingu, Takenouchi, Infant Ojin, Early 1800s

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21" (53 cm.) including helmet. 15" seated. Each with carved wooden head having very fine lustrous gofun patina, his with ivory-like tones, and with stylized characteristics. Jingu with black silk fiber hair inserted in center crown slit, drawn back and extending to her hips, has painted features with aristocratic detailing including sky-brows (okimayu), carved hands with expressive fingers and carved feet, and is wearing an elaborately-layered silk brocade robe with cloud and dragon motif, and with gilt paper lacquer armor with paulownia crest on chest, carrying a quiver of arrows, bow, sword with fur cover, and with lacquered eboshi and curved boots. Takenouchi, in classic kneeling pose, is wearing silk brocade costume with dragon-crested armor, straw sandals and has wizened aged features enhanced by inset thick grey brows, moustache and beard; he holds the wrapped infant Ojin in his arms. Generally excellent. Edo period, early 1800s. The figures depict the Empress Jingu (the only female figure to be included in Boy's Day displays), her minister Takenouchi, and her infant son, Ojin, the future Emperor. Jingu and Takenouchi wear unusual matching crests (tsuta design) possibly indicating a comissioned set for a family with that same crest. History and legend concerning Empress Jingu are intricately woven and impenetrable, a scholar's pleasure to disentangle. Yet both versions of the life of this remarkable woman, remain compelling story lines to this day.