Carved Wooden Samurai with Expressive Features, Black Velvet Costume, Early 1800s

Live Auction

15 1/2" (39 cm.) The portrait doll depicting a samurai with very idiosyncratic expression, posed standing, is all carved wood except textile upper arms, and has gofun finish, bald pate, well-defined bulging eyes that are slightly glancing sideways, furrowed brows and age lines, broad nose, downcast lips, bare feet, and well defined toes and fingers. He is wearing a very rare black velvet (birodo) kimono with gold painted and embroidered designs, and has a long sword at his hip and a leather belt. Good condition, with faded complexion, frailty to silk edging on kimono and some losses of gold on kimono. Edo period, early 1800s. Rare detail of characterization and rare velvet kimono.