Passed
Description
5" (13 cm.) largest. The smaller being a rare saga-ningyo,single-piece body carving depicting
a Buddhist acolyte (doji) holding a bird tucked under his right arm,nodder style carved head
with shell white (gofun) facial features,painted facial features,and carved double-knobbed hair
style,painted costume design featuring a sleeveless red outer coat with rabbit and wave
pattern at the hem and large flower burst at the center,sleeves of undercoat executed in blue
with gold designs,white trousers decorated with scroll foliate designs. The larger piece was
executed in imitation of a saga-ningyo but done in a kimekomi style of fabric pressed and
glued to a carved wood core,also depicts a Buddhist acolyte,holds a bird under his right
arm,and has a nodder head; his outer sleeveless coat and inner coat are executed in a silk
brocade with gold lamellae (kinran) designs and trousers in silk brocade. Condition: each has
loss of gofun and pigments on head,the saga with additional body cracks. Comments: Edo
period,late 18th/early 19th century. Value Points: through of execution of a simple design
and level,saga-ningyo are considered rare and desirable.