Passed
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Description
18" (46 cm.) h. 24" overall extended length. Japanese iki-ningyo (living doll) samurai pair, each fashioned of wood and covered in a pigmented gofun, inset glass eyes, painted details, real hair, open mouth with exposed teeth. Both are wearing combat armor of lacquered paper with silk lacing, one with additional metal chain mail at arms and metal blade with metal tsuba hand guard, and both are mounted on wood bases, depicting two warriors in mid combat, having dynamic posturing with one figure in an extended run with bared naginata halberd, the other in a crouched running position with sword blade already drawn, right arm cocked and ready to execute the blow. Overall fine condition, minor repairs and in-painting, slight wear to textiles. Meiji Era, circa 1900. Iki-ningyo were popular souvenir items for wealthy Europeans on the extended Asian grand tour and were sold at the treaty ports through shops such as Deakin Bros and Kuhn & Komar.