Carved Wooden Courtesan (Oiran) with Splendid Coiffure and Costume, Circa 1920

Live Auction

15" (38 cm.) Carved wooden socket head with fine gofun finish, inset glass eyes, heavily-modeled eyelids, painted brows, closed mouth with hint of smile, painted feathered detail of hair at forehead edges, elaborate black silk fiber hair in spectacular upswept coiffure that is decorated with metal and foil ornaments and unusual ruffled bands of chirimen, wooden lower arms with expressive hands, wooden legs with defined toes, wearing richly patterned silk kimono with red silk padded lining, red and white silk inner kimonos, silk brocade obi with pronounced tie at the front indicating her status, carrying a lantern and posed upon a silk covered wooden base. Excellent condition. Meiji era, circa 1900. An especially fine example with superb details of coiffure and costume, wonderfully-preserved. Taisho era, circa 1920.