Early Carved Wooden Portrait of Hideyoshi in Elaborate Armor, Circa 1840

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11" (28 cm.) Carved wooden head with gofun finish, painted facial features, heavily-modeled eyelids, painted features, closed mouth with firmly-shaped lips, silk fiber hair in side-slits and drawn his from face into a topknot, bald pate, carved wooden hands and feet, arranged in cross-legged seated pose. He is wearing a silk coat with black velvet details, and has lacquer paper armor, black velvet wrist guards, a textured gold lacquer cap, and is holding a battle fan (gumbai) and a sword with wooden case having green velvet loops and painted designs. Excellent condition. Late Edo period, circa 1840. Hideyoshi, 16th century, is considered the great unifier of Japan, with a profound cultural influence including the development of the tea ceremony, including the construction of a portable tea room, replete with gold leaf decorations, which accompanied him on his travels. This particular portrait of Hideyoshi, in rare diminutive size, is notable for its fine detail of costume and accessories.