Antique Japanese Wood sawdust composition, Gosho Ningyo Palace Doll !
* This doll dates precisely to the late Meiji period (circa 1894–1912).
* Dimensions, approx.: ... 2.75" W x 4" H x 3" L ...
* The paper label affixed to the lower backside reads vertically from top to bottom:彫刻 (Chōkoku): Meaning "Carving" or "Sculpture".五二 (Goni / Go-Ni): Representing "52".This combination refers to the Goni-kai (五二会), a prominent national industrial and arts association established in 19th-century Meiji Japan (1894). The organization was founded to promote and evaluate high-quality traditional Japanese exports across specific artisan categories. The name "Go-Ni" (5 and 2) explicitly represented seven primary crafts: five decorative arts (textiles, ceramics, lacquerware, copperware, and papermaking) and two physical crafts (carving/sculpture and floor coverings).
* The presence of the Goni-kai label proves this doll was vetted or showcased by the association. This anchors its production directly to the late Meiji period or early Taisho period (circa 1890s–1910s).
* The Exposed Core: The hole in the green silk panel reveals a rough, fibrous brown material underneath. This confirms the doll's cap or head foundation is made of papier-mâché (hariko) or a compressed wood-composite paste (toba).Construction Layering: Doll makers molded this core shape first. They then glued the silk panels directly onto it to form the tight-fitting daikoku-bō cap.
* Brocade Patterns: The back panels showcase dense metallic threadwork. The dark blue/black panel on the left features a repeating geometric pattern, while the center panel uses vertical metallic stripes that catch the light efficiently.
The Scarf (Hachimaki / Eri-maki): The orange silk fabric tied around the neck mimics a traditional neckcloth or bib tie. The crepe texture of this silk is called chirimen, a high-quality wavy silk fabric frequently used in Japanese doll tailoring.
The Loincloth/Belt Tie: The lower orange strap represents a stylized mawashi or shime-nawa belt tie, further emphasizing the healthy, robust form of a traditional sumo infant character often seen in Gosho designs.
* The toy's red handle shows a slightly glossy finish, indicating it was sealed with a clear lacquer or animal-hide glue (nikawa) to protect the mineral pigments.
* The object held by the doll is a traditional Japanese ceremonial toy called a buriburi-gitcho (ぶりぶり橘町 / 振々).
* Left side of the head cracked, open.
Surface Soiling: There is widespread, light grey surface dust and localized handling grime, particularly visible in the deep skin folds of the thighs, feet, and neck.
Surface Abrasions: Fine, shallow scratch marks and scuffs are scattered across the torso and legs from historical handling.
Pigment Condition: The facial features remain remarkably well-preserved. The red pigment on the lips and black pigment outlining the eyes and eyebrows show minimal fading or flaking.
Separation: Minor edge separation is occurring at the hairline where the fabric cap meets the gofun shell, caused by the localized shrinkage of antique adhesives.
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