Carved Wooden Laughing Isho-Ningyo in a Lively Animated Scene, Late 1800s

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15" (38 cm.) Having a carved wooden head, hands (sculpted to hold drum sticks) and bare feet (peeking from beneath trousers), with lustrous gofun finish, inset glass eyes, painted features, laughing expression, teeth, feathering detail of painted hair at sides of head and slits for silk fiber sidelocks in long lengths to indicate youthfulness. He is posed dynamically, leaning to the side, his left foot playfully balanced atop a wooden drum with gold painted designs, his right foot extended with upraised big toe, and his hands posed to begin drumming. He is wearing a silk brocade outer coat, red silk crepe (chirimen) kimono with embroidered designs, and lacquered musician's cap, and is mounted on a wooden base designed to appear as a rock-strewn countryside. Generally excellent. Meiji era, Late 1800s.