Rare 18th Century Hadaka Saga-ningyo (Naked Saga Doll), Edo Period

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9" (23 cm.) Hadaka saga-ningyo (naked Saga doll) was an early precursor to the gosho-ningyo, having large round head with lightly carved and painted hair, nicely formed facial features including classic, early, narrow eyes and well-formed mouth, and was notable for its attenuated arms and legs, here with right hand held in front of chest with left arm resting on his knee, well-formed fingers, sexed figure, wearing haragake bib. Some soiling to gofun. Edo Period, Mid-18th century. Exhibited Mingei International Museum (2005). Published Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll, p. 23. Saga-ningyo were all-wood, richly lacquered and decorated doll figures that originated in the late 17th century and are believed to have been carved by Buddhist sculptors based in the Saga-Arashiyama area of Kyoto. Saga-ningyo frequently depicted seated Buddhist acolytes known as Doji that often held animals tucked under their arms. Scholars point to this form as an early inspiration for gosho-ningyo. Hadaka-saga represent an early interpretation of gosho-ningyo before they evolved into the classic "chubby" child form by the end of the 1700s.