Japanese Mechanical Vignette of Drummer and Mouse Tower

4 Watching

Live Auction

20" (51 cm.) h. x 9" x 9". Resting upon a wooden base with painted scene bearing auspicious longevity symbols of crane, tortoise, pine, plum and bamboo, is a Doji drummer with drum alongside a wooden tower. A side turn-crank activates mechanisms that move the doll's head from left to right as his arms raise and lower to beat a raised taiko drum while mice scurry up a track to a watch tower; the doji boy has head and hands of wood covered in gofun with painted features, and wears a silk brocade sleeveless vest, purple silk zukin-style cap over long silk hair, chirimen silk crepe under kimono with embroidered sleeve designs; and the mice are of paper mache covered in gofun with painted details. Excellent condition. Japanese, Edo Period, 19th century.