Rare Diminutive Carved Wooden Doll as Lion Tamer, Early 1800s

Live Auction

10" (25 cm.) Carved wooden head with gleaming gofun finish, highly-defined facial expression of laughing child, painted features, heavily-lidded eyes, impressed dimples and teeth, well-modeled ears, silk fiber cap-shaped hair, carved wooden feet and hands, wearing fine early silk crepe (chirimen) kimono with embroidered floral design on the sleeves, his outer jacket worn as though tossed off of his shoulders and his sleeves tied for ease of movement, classic silk Zukin cap, and holding a paper mache lion mask with black bead eyes and hinged open/close mouth in his right hand. Mounted on original black lacquer base with inset painted floral design. Generally excellent, light dustiness of costume. Mid-Edo period, early 1800s, the charming doll was inspired by the Noh theatre performance of Shishi-mai, or the Lion Tamer. In the legend, a priest approaches a bridge at which a roaring lion appears at the other end; the priest is cautioned to wait for a miracle, which he does. Suddenly the lion appears again, cavorting merrily in a wreath of colorful peonies, and the priest passes over without problem. The symbolic story is beautifully presented in this wonderfully sculpted doll with beautifully-detailed costume.