Doll

Doll

Seated Samurai Doll with armour from the Kamakura Period. A: Separate head molded from wood paste and dipped in gofun (oyster shell powder) with dark pink complexion; faded red lips with thin black lined painted black eyebrows lashes and hairline; inset glass eyes. Black silk fiber hair pulled up into a top knot and tied with purple silk cord; bushy black silk fiber sideburns; bald pate. Wood peg extending down to attach to body. B: Body seated in a lotus position right arm bent at elbow extending forward with right hand holding fan left arm across knee with hand curled to hold sword. Clothing consists of a red silk brocade kimono with light yellow wave design blue yellow and white flowers and bamboo leaves. The lower sleeves are made of a different silk brocade with red background (faded on left arm) with gold and white floral and geometric designs--these sleeves are meant to represent a protective garment and the shoulder seams would have been covered by the missing armoured epaulets; tied at the wrists with white cord. Front armour is made of gold coloured molded metal breastplate is in one piece with holes with light orange silk cord tied in lines and purple silk cord in Xs across the top; two large metal bosses with rings on the chest; three panels of metal armour hanging down from the waist are made in tiers and tied with white purple and red silk cord in X pattern. Breastplate is attached to a hard paper plate with a beige background with blue and brown scattered flowers outlined with black and white silk cord piping. The same piping outlines two shoulder straps of green and white silk brocade extending to the back and held in place with two metal bosses and attached to a red brocade backplate with gold blue white flowers and green leaves outlined with a red and gold band; white silk sash tied around waist with a bow in the front. Blue silk brocade hakama with scattered white floral medallions has slits and sides and is lined with white silk. Carved wooden hands are painted light blue with white flowers (depicting gloves) and carved wooden feet stick out the front are dipped in white gofun to depict tabi socks. Fan (gumpai-uchiwa Chinese style) is glued to right hand red painted wood handle with gold knobs below and above fan gold and blue painted paper flat fan with openings. C: Scabbard for sword L: 4.25" black painted metal with gold speckles copper metal fitting at closed end and brass band at open end curved. D: Sword L: 5" curved thin silvery metal blade brass colored tsuba guard somewhat diamond shaped with two openings end of handle has the head of a phoenix? With a ring through its beak. Condition: Epaulets missing. Red stain on front of hakama cracked fingers. Red paint is wearing off the fan. Peeling sword handle.

1993.004.106