Pair of Japanese Ichimatsu-ningyo in Original Costumes,Showa Era

Live Auction

9" (23 cm.) Depicting a young boy and girl,each has head of wood composite (toso) covered in an exceptionally white shell (gofun) with painted features and large inset glass eyes,traditional ichimatsu body construction,the girl's hair drawn into a dragonfly style (tonbo). Condition: generally excellent,some minor signs of wear at hands. Comments: Japan,Showa era,1950s,pairs of ichimatsu-ningyo became a traditional wedding gift beginning in the 1920s and were intended largely for display rather than play. Value Points: classically rendered,the boy wears a formal purple silk kimono with crane designs over silk hakama trousers; the girl wears a silk kosode kimono dyed red at the shoulders and fading gradually to gray at the hem with designs of waves,pines and autumn leaves,secured at the waist with an obi,obi-age and traditional accessories; both wearing silk tabi socks and mounted on wooden stands.