Passed
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Description
13" (33 cm.) Dramatic isho-ningyo (fashion doll) of the 14th century warrior Kusunoki Masashige (1294-1336) has a head of wood covered in a fine gofun with painted details, hair formed as part of the head in a tall topknot, dressed in an elegant gold silk brocade jimbaori sleeveless surcoat with green silk brocade trousers, and a hitatori kimono with embroidered sleeves, and with a lacquered paper breast plate with silk crepe, birodo black velvet and metal cutouts of peony and Masashige's signature crest of a fan on waves, silk brocade shin guards, and heavy boots, his left arm with hand upraised. The ningyo is mounted on a black lacquered base with painted front aperture. Loss of fur on boots, fading to textiles. Edo Period, Late 18th century. Exhibited Mingei International Museum (2005). Published Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll, p. 189. Isho-ningyo covered a wide array of subject mater, frequently reflective of popular cultural trends, particularly successful Kabuki performances. Many of the various Kabuki and bunraku puppet renditions of the great warrior tales known as the Taiheiki would have potentially featured Masashige in a dramatic turn.