Takeda-ningyo of Yatsuhashi

CNJR139

Takeda-ningyo of the Yatsuhashi Bridge, a nagauta dance parody of the Heian Period poet Ariwara Narihira (825-880) taken from the Tales of Ise, a popular subject in Kabuki, here a female stands instead of Narihira, wearing a long sleeved kimono densely embroidered with curtains of state slightly rolled up, her silk brocade outer vest with sleeves thrown back done with a repeated water whirlpool design, her face of wood covered in gofun unusually has inset glass eyes, real hair, wearing a lacquered paper court cap, well executed bridge with papier-mâché water currents and silk and paper irises growing in the water, losses to hair, minor fading, pin holding outer kimono sleeve, overall fine condition.

21” x 13” x 9-1/2” Early Meiji Era, Circa 1870
< Back to Collection