Takeda-ningyo depicting the pirate Watonai standing on the Shishigejo bridge from the play Kokunsen’ya, with right leg perched on the bridge with left foot thrust forward, signature sedge hat in his upraised right hand, head of wood covered in a slightly pigmented gofun, silk fiber hair down in a topknot with rope tie, silk brocade kimono with sleeves thrown back to reveal silk crepe inner kimono with densely embroidered sleeves depicting a bamboo lattice work, reflecting his famous adventures hunting tigers in the bamboo forests of China, Kokusen’ya is one of the most famous plays in the Kabuki and Bunraku repertoires, Watonai waits at the bridge for a signal that he may enter the palace, minor fading, overall fine condition.
Exhibited: Mingei International Museum, 2007
Published: Ningyo: Art of the Japanese Doll, p. 249