Mechanical Gosho-Ningyo and Small Gosho with Eboshi Cap

Live Auction

5" (13 cm.) standing. Simply rendered doll of wood composition (toso) covered in shell white (gofun) with modestly painted details and presentation ribbon (mizuhiki) on forehead,having moveable arms and legs with right hand holding sambaso rattle,and dressed in silk crepe outer sleeveless jacket with simple embroidered designs and a silk haragake bib done in green and gold checkerboard (ichimatsu moyo) design,with velvet patch (birodo) at top of head,mounted on (replaced) wooden base. Condition: some cracks and losses to gofun,strings replaced,rattle broken. Comments: Japanese,Edo period,mid-19th century,karakuri or mechanical style gosho dolls are a specific sub-genre of Japanese dolls,most consisting of a seated figure a knob crank. This particular,and more rare,style is closely akin to the early ayatsuri string puppets,similar to Western marionettes. Value Points: rare and charming early Edo mechanical doll with original costume Included is a small kneeling gosho-ningyo wearing an eboshi court cap and silk haragake bib with minor loss of pigment and gofun,originally presented as an auspicious gift,Edo period.