Early Carved Wooden Japanese Dolls, Depicting Empress Jingu, Takenouchi and Infant

Live Auction

21" (53 cm.) Each with carved wooden head, lustrous gofun patina, and with stylized characteristics; Jingu with black silk fiber hair inserted in center crown slit, drawn back and extending to her hips, painted features with aristocratic detailing including sky-brows, carved feet and hands with expressive fingers, wearing an elaborately-layered silk brocade robe with cloud and dragon motif, and with gilt paper lacquer armor with Pawlownia crest on chest, carrying a quiver of arrows, bow, sword with fur cover, and with lacquered eboshi and curved boots; Takenouchi, in classic kneeling pose, wearing silk brocade costume with dragon-crested armor, straw sandals, with wizened aged features enhanced by inset thick grey brows, moustache and beard; he holds the wrapped infant Ojin in his arms. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Japanese, Edo period, early 1800s, the figures depict the Empress Jingu, her minister Takenouchi, and her infant son, Ojin, the future Emperor; the legends of this trio are compelling. Value Points: very rare luxury ensemble with superb details of characterization and costuming.