Rare Small Japanese Paper Mache Ichimatsu

Live Auction

8" (20 cm.) Paper mache head with tiny inset glass eyes, accented nostrils, closed mouth with tiny original hole at center, shaded grey hair ringed by a black circlet of black human hair and with little painted cap at the crown, paper mache shoulder plate, cloth upper limbs, composition and wooden lower limbs. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Japanese, Ichimatsu play doll, late Meiji era, circa 1880. Value Points: the cheerful fellow is wonderfully preserved with original rare body, original silk crepe blue kimono, obi, chirimen silk pouch.