$8,500
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Description
5" (13 cm.) Each has carved wooden head, torso, legs and lower arms with gofun finish, and rounded plump face with carved and painted facial features that is different on each (one, for example, with a wide smile), and each has a different hair style. The sword-carrying gosho wears a Chinese court cap over sidelocks, the center gosho wears a red-wig over his black hair, the gosho on the right wears a cap over his black hair and carries a battle fan. Each has a well-detailed sexed body, with right hand curled for holding fan or sword. They are wearing identical costumes of bib (haragake) and matching sleeveless coat made of chirimen silk crepe with embroidered designs of flowers and rippling water. Excellent overall, boy with battle fan has line in gofun across his lower face. Edo period, circa 1800. The dolls were created as a humorous parody (mitate) of a particular Noh theatre performance, and were designed for the amusement of Japanese nobility of the era. They are extremely rare to find in a complete set with matching and well-preserved costumes.