Compelling and Exceptionally Rare Isho-ningyo of Yamauba and Kintaro, Edo Period

Live Auction

16" (41 cm.) woman. 8" baby. Both fashioned of wood and covered overall in a fine gofun with inset glass eyes, painted details, silk hair, the rare isho-ningyo tableau is an unusual rendering of Hag and her young adopted charge, Kintaro (the Golden Boy); she depicted kneeling with kimono thrown back to reveal breasts and Kintaro depicted as an infant resting on her thigh, his head cradled in her right hand, a peach stalk held in her left hand, wearing a gold silk brocade kosode kimono bearing dense concentric square patterns with floating kiri paulownia blossoms, secured at the waist by a purple silk brocade obi with embroidered fuji wisteria blossoms, Kintaro sports a silk brocade haragake bib with figured silk crepe ties, the fleshly folds of his skin suggesting his future great musculature and strength. Restored, wear to textiles. Late Edo Period, mid-19th century. Although Kintaro and his relationship with his adopted mother Yamauba was a popular subject matter in both print and theater, few ningyo from the Edo Period exist. The sexualized maternal nature of their bond was frequently depicted in woodblock prints of the period, and was explored by the celebrated artist ningyo Hirata Goyo II (1903-1981) as part of the sosaku-ningyo (art doll movement) of the 1930s. Whether this was used as a Boy's Day doll or as an isho-ningyo display doll is uncertain.