Rare Early Takeda Depicting Watonai in Exceptionally Dynamic Portrayal, Early 1800s

Live Auction

19" (48 cm.) Carved wooden head with very expressive features accented by red theatrical accents (kumadori), gofun finish, painted facial features with dramatic brows, wide downcast fierce mouth, black silk fiber hair drawn from face with long sidelocks, carved wooden hands and feet, and posed in exaggerated theatrical manner as though debarking from a paper mache boat surrounded by painted scenes of ocean waves; he leans forward with arms posed to the side for balance, his right foot extended and his left foot bent at the knee. He has carved detail of painted striped stockings and blue shoes, and is wearing a superb original costume of chirimen silk crepe with silk peony embroidered on the sleeve, and with uusual woven rush hat in folded design, and is holding a paper mache cannon with textured lacquer and gold finish. The dynamic figure is posed on his orginal base with inset fabric panel. Excellent condition. Edo period, early 1900s. Watonai, the legendary hero, of Japanese/Chinese lineage, was a popular figure on the Kabuki stage during the Edo period, noted for his exaggerated braggadocio and dramatic poses which are perfectly portrayed in this Takeda presentation.