Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Dolls (103)

A wonderful 19th Century Boy's Day Ningyo of a boy dressed as a Samurai in full armor, featuring a dragon, sword, helmet, and bow and arrows. His wonderful face is carved of wood and covered with many layers of Gofun (oyster sell lacquer). He is riding a battle horse in full dress, all creating a spectacular work of art. The original wood box is included. Height: 23 inches (58.5cm), width: 18 inches (46cm).

Japanese Early Meiji Period Gosho Ningyo (Palace Doll) depicted with a gift box with Daruma and featuring a crane. He is wearing a fitted silk crepe haragake bib tied at the neck and waist. He has a delightfully rendered face with a bright expression, slightly open mouth, and painted features. His forehead has a painted auspicious mizuhiki (presentation ribbon). He is covered overall in a fine white gofun (oyster shell lacquer). 4.5h x 4.5w inches, 11.5h x 11.5w cm.

Japanese Isho Ningyo of a Noh Actor, Meiji Period, late 19th Century. Height: 13.75 inches, 35 cm.

Japanese Meiji Period Musha Ningyo (Boys' Day Doll) depicting Emperor Jimmu Tenno, the first Emperor of Japan, in an unusual seated position. A fine and rare Ningyo, wonderfully well-executed face with strong features, covered overall in a fine tinted gofun (oyster shell lacquer), with a spectacular silk fiber hairstyle, sumptuous silk brocades, and a sword at his hip while holding a fabulous polearm weapon. 10.5 inches, 26.5 cm.

19th Century Meiji Period Japanese Hai Hai Ningyô lying on a beautiful Shibori silk pillow. The Hai Hai is the rarest of the Gosho form. They are presented in the upper class as a birth presentation gift to protect against bad spirits. This charming example has a Chomusubi (gift ribbon) on his head. 7.5 inches (19cm) long x 4 inches (10cm) high. Excellent Condition.

Japanese Early Meiji Period Kneeling Gosho Ningyo (Palace Doll) depicted with a gift box offering, wearing a fitted silk crepe haragake bib with a cherry blossoms design, tied at the neck and waist. He has a delightfully rendered face with a bright expression, slightly open mouth, and painted features. His forehead has a painted auspicious mizuhiki (presentation ribbon). He is covered overall in a fine white gofun (oyster shell lacquer). 4h x 4w inches, 10h x 10w cm.

Early Meiji Period (circa 1880) Japanese Empress Hina Ningyô (Girls Day Doll) She really has quite a regal presence. She wears wears the many layered Kimono of Royalty, featuring elaborate embroidery. She has a beautifully carved face, covered with Gofun (Oyster Shell Lacquer). Her fantastic crown is something special. 11.5 inches (29 cm) high and 12 inches (30.5 cm) wide. From a widely renowned and published collection that has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum and Japan Society.

Ningyo of Young Lady Looming Textile. 15 inches (38cm) wide x 10 inches (25.5cm) high.

A unique Japanese artistic creation of a Geisha Looking in a Mirror. She is set inside of a glass enclosed presentation box The two sides are beveled glass creating an arresting design of multiple images. From the front she catches her reflection in the mirror. This is the only image we see of her face. She is so interesting in her creative style. Height: 12.5 inches, 32 cm.

Japanese Oshi-e Ningyô of a High-Ranking Oiran Geisha. 12 x 8.75 inches, 30.5 x 22.25 cm. These were very popular during the Meiji Period; over 400 million dollars in sales (in current currency) was recorded in 1888. The characteristics of Matsumoto Oshi-e Ningyô are that the design is stuffed heavily with cotton and the faces are painted in Ukiyo-e (the floating world of Edo period) style. It is very rare to find old Oshi-e Ningyô in this quality and size today. The popularity of Oshi-e Ningyô declined when steam engines spread throughout Japan and made more goods (Hina Ningyô in this case) accessible to the local regions. The production of Matsumoto Oshi-e ended in the late Meiji period (1868-1912).

19th Century Japanese Ningyô of Fukurokuju, one of the Seven Lucky Gods. He is the God of Wisdom, Wealth and Longevity. 11 x 7 inches, 28 x 18 cm. Excellent Condition.

Japanese Ningyo of a Mother and Child or Mary and Child. 13.25 inches (33.5 cm) height.

Edo Period late 18th/early 19th Century Japanese Ningyo of Yamauba, the Forest Goddess, half woman and half spirit. She found Kintaro abandoned in the forest by his father, and saved his life. She raised him, and he became the Hercules of Japan. For sure one of the rarest of all Ningyo. Also the rarest of female images. Only a few of these may actually exist. She bares her breasts to nurse Kintaro, as seen in Japanese woodblock prints as a popular subject by artists such as Utamaro. She is holding a wild peach branch and Kintaro is in a sumptuous silk textile matching her Obi. She is wearing gorgeous textiles and beautiful tied hair of silk. Her face and bust are of the highest quality burnished gofun, creating her beautiful spirit face. She is sitting on a peach silk pillow. Displayed on a fine black velvet display stand. Overall dimensions: 11.5 x 8 x 8 inches, 29 x 20.5 x 20.5 cm; Yumauba: 10 x 7 inches, 25.5 x 18 cm. Fine 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 inches, 36 cm.

Meiji Period (circa 1890) Japanese Hago-ita (Battledore or Badminton) Paddle in its original display case. It is very rare to find one from this time period, especially with its original case. A deluxe example that is enhanced with three dimensional objects. We have never seen such a wonderful and elaborate Hago-ita. 26 inches 66 cm) tall with case. From a widely renowned and published collection that has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum and Japan Society.

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.

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 are almost never seen except in museums or important private collections. Saga Ningyo are considered the "holy grail" of Ningyo. They were first produced in the early 17th Century. 10.75 inches (27cm) tall. Fine condition with original box and documents.

A fine Late 19th Century (circa 1880) Meiji Period Gosho Ningyo of Momotaro the Peach Boy, based on a famous Japanese legend. This beautiful Gosho is elaborately detailed and fully armored, holding a banner with peach finial. The peach symbol appears several times on this magical Gosho. His wonderful face expresses his nobility. Carved entirely of wood and covered with highly burnished Gofun. 13 inches (33cm) height.