$800
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sold
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Description
4" (10 cm.) The Gosho-ningyo, fashioned of clay and covered in a fine gofun with painted features, is depicted seated with right leg thrust forward and holding a painted black box with gold ends having raised nodes and a thick purple silk tie cord.on his right shoulder, and wearing an applied chirimen silk crepe haragake bib and zukin cap, with painted designs of the shochikubai (three friends of winter) motif of bamboo, pine and plum. Retouch of lips. Showa Era, early 20th century. In the modern era, clay substrata for gosho-ningyo became increasingly popular, allowing artisans to greatly increase production. The manufacturing technique is similar to that of toso (wood composite) requiring an initial base mold, but with clay the dolls also have to be fired. This ultimately reduced shrinking and expansion in the finished product creating a more stable surface for the gofun to adhere to and ultimately greater longevity for the doll itself.