This charming Japanese gosho ningyo (“palace doll”), with chubby arms and legs outstretched, holds a rattle-type toy in his right hand while he crawls on his stomach. Early 20th century. His one-piece clay body is finished in white gofun (crushed oyster shell), and his facial features are well modeled and delicately hand painted in wonderful detail. He is scantily clad with a red and gold silk bib or stomach cloth (“haragake”) glued on and tied around his waist with light pink silk crepe cords. ... Click for details
A white and black speckled cat rests silently on top of a pile of zabuton pillows, innocent enough until overturned to find the pair of lovers amorously intertwined beneath. This is a tsuchi ningyo, an unfired clay image painted with pigments popular throughout Japanese history. Some of the most famous tsuchi nigyo were from Kyotos Fushimi district. A typical entranceway greeting, images such as this were popular items in the pleasure districts of old Kyoto. As depicting genitalia was illegal... Click for details
18th Century Edo Period Saga Ningyo of a young boy holding a rooster in one hand and a scepter in the
other. His head bobs while his tongue goes in and out. Carved entirely of wood, his robes are built up with pigments in a technique called 'moriage'. He has a gorgeous blue outer robe decorated with foliate scroll
slightly raised in relief. His inner robes are brown with shaped roundels of
geometric patterns and cloud shapes. This rarest of all Ningyo forms almost
never comes up for sale and... Click for details
Late 18th Century Musha Ningyo of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. This wonderful early example of high quality has a great presence, sumptuous
brocades, gold lacquered armor, a spectacular helmet, and many other fine details.
His face is gorgeously and masterfully carved with finely burnished Gofun. An extraordinary example. Figure height: 15.75 inches, 40 cm. Overall dimensions: 20 x 20 inches, 51 x 51 cm. Excellent Condition.
A wonderful large Edo Period Gosho Ningyo of Urashimataro. A delightful, playful rendering of this timeless theme. These type of Palace Dolls are usually smaller. This charming example is a unique, wonderful form from all angles. He is wearing an embroidered cap and bib and has a highly burnished finished gofun pigment. 12h x 11w inches, 30.h x 28w cm. Excellent Condition.
Lovely pair of Japanese Geisha Isho Ningyo. The style of this gorgeous set is fashioned after the work of early Japanese woodblock prints artists, such as Utamaro. They are
finely painted and wear sumptuous kimonos over their graceful, elongated forms. Each figure is 12.5h x 7w inches, 32h x 18w cm. Excellent Condition.
A set of Three Meiji Period Japanese Isho Ningyo of rich, stylish young ladies viewing a book of leaves. They are created in a very unusual style. We have not seen anything like these before. They are gorgeous in every way. A work of art that transcends the usual. 7 inches (18cm) high. Wood base is 15 x 8.25 inches, 38 x 21 cm. Excellent Condition.
A very large and elaborate Meiji Period Takeda Ningyo of a Kabuki actor in the role of the great warrior Akechi Mitsuhide, who rose from a lowly farmer to become one of history's greatest samurai. This Ningyo is in Excellent Condition and is complete, which is amazing considering its complex construction. It was made in northern Japan, giving him him a unique look, as most Takeda Ningyo were made in Kyoto. Total dimensions: h31.5 x w16 x d11 inches, h80 x w40.5 x d28 cm. Figure height: 14.25 inc... Click for details
A spectacular early 19th Century Edo Period Takeda Ningyo in superb condition, a rare find in this condition. It is of the most elegant, for sure. He is an actor portraying a young Samurai. He has a beautifully carved face and wears sumptuous brocades. He has all of his original accessories, including a suit of armor on his back. He is positioned an a black lacquered stand on four legs. Total height is 20 inches. Figure height is 14 inches. Excellent Condition.
Japanese Isho Ningyo of an Oiran, the most important Geisha of the Kyoto Geisha quarter. The book and movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha' is the story of an Oiran. This master work is truly a work of art to behold, and is by one of Japan's foremost doll makers, the late Ito Hisashige XI. The first Ito Hisashige was appointed to the position of Court Doll Maker by Emperor Gosakuramachi in 1767. This long unbroken line has continued in this position, making some of Japan's finest Ningyo for 12 generation... Click for details
