Charming clay doll figurine of standing woman, dressed in a thick winter kimono decorated with irises, exposing her feet by holding up the front of the kimono. Her head is covered in the typical okoso-zukin scarf, wrapped around her head and shoulders leaving her smiling face exposed.
Very soft clay modeled in a mold and fired at low heat. Painted with natural/mineral colors, applied after the figure has cooled. The back of the doll is left uncolored (white)
Japan, Meiji era, early 20th century.
H ca 10.5 in.
Soiled, the purple of the head scarf faded, several chips to pigments; all in all in good, stable condition
Bought by previous owner in the 1970s during a trip through Japan.
Clay dolls – kawara ningyo - have been produced in large quantities all over Japan at least since the early Edo period. They were made as toys and souvenirs for travelers. Clay was hand-modeled or put in molds to make different shapes, which were fired at a low heat. Subsequently, each figurine was painted with bright (mineral/natural) colors. It is a craft, mingei or folk art, with regional differences in colors and subject matter. In Koga, Nagasaki, the subject was mostly figures related to the foreigner traders that were living in the Nagasaki area, such as Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch, but also monkeys and other animals.
In the early days, a large variety of models were made. Although the dolls are still made today, the amount of models have been reduced.
This piece was possibly made in Fushimi, near Kyoto.
