Carved Wooden Laughing Isho-Ningyo, Drum in the Chinese-Style, Late 18th Century

Live Auction

11" (28 cm.) Carved wooden head and hands, lustrous gofun finish, painted facial features, very narrow eyes with pronounced eyelids, painted features, closed mouth with painted teeth and smiling expression, impressed dimples, black silk fiber hair in Chinese knot decorated with silk crepe pom-poms, padded body arranged in seated pose with carved wooden feet posed counterpoint to the head, carved hands with right hand having curled fingers to hold drum stick. Original Chinese style costume of blue silk brocade with red silk crepe (chirimen) trousers, tie cords on sleeves, and neck and wrist ruffles, holding a silk-wrapped drum. Generally excellent, light costume fading. Edo period, late 18th century. Rare Chinese influence on the delightful early Japanese isho-ningyo with captivating facial expression. The doll is featured in Japanese Dolls by Alan Scott Pate, page 137.