Passed
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Description
11" (28 cm.) Each of the three Isho-ningyo female entertainers has head and hands of wood covered in a fine gofun, silk fiber hair delicately arranged with silk tie ribbons, inset glass eyes, and painted details including two samisen players and one koto (zither) player, all in matching attire consisting of green silk brocade uchigake outer kimono bearing dragon and cloud motif with padded hem over simple beni (safflower red) inner chirimen silk crepe kimono secured by blue brocade obi tie belts. Each is positioned to play her respective instrument, the samisens well fashioned with bone plectrums and facing, and the koto with bone string separators on well-fashioned wood case. Some wear to textiles, repair to hair. Late Edo Period, mid-19th century. Exhibited Japan Society (1996). Published Ningyo: The Art of the Human Figure, p. 69. Isho-ningyo were effectively used to portray the fuzoku or customs of the age. This trio depicts the world of the Edo entertainment district where clients whiled away the hours being entertained by musicians, singers, dancers and purveyors of other pleasures.