Passed
Click image to enlarge
Description
13" (33 cm.) Small-scale karakuri-ningyo depicts Hotei (the happy god) shown with his signature big belly exposed, simply formed head with large ears, painted beard stubble, bald head of a monk, wearing a green silk brocade outer kimono with sleeves thrown back to reveal inner chirimen silk crepe kimono with embroidered designs and blue silk cuffs, In his right hand he holds a Chinese-style fan and, in his left, a jack-in-the-box type figure; as the side handle is turned, Hotei turns around and the jack-in-the-box extends and contracts, Hotei stands upon an unusual silver foil base with front aperture bearing a painted image of a lotus blossom, on raised papier mache legs. Some wear to textiles and repair to legs of base. Edo Period, 19th century, in rare unusual small-scale for karakuri-ningyo.