Girl Doll (Sōsaku Ichimatsu)
Attributed to
Studio of Hirata Gōyō II
Workshop
Hirata, Tsuneo (Gōyō II)
(Japanese, 1903 - 1981)
Dateca. 1935
OriginJapan
MediumPigmented gofun body, painted, glass eyes, assembled; silk brocade clothing
Dimensions16 in. (40.6 cm)
ClassificationsDoll
Credit LineGift of Carolyn K. and Richard F. Barry III
Object number2019.7
Label TextStudio of Hirata Gōyō II
Tsuneo Hirata (Gōyō II), (Japanese, 1903 - 1981)
Girl Doll (Sosaku Ichimatsu)
Pigmented gofun body, painted, glass eyes, assembled; silk brocade clothing, about 1935 (Showa era)
Gift of Carolyn K. and Richard F. Barry, III
This elegant girl doll has a soft jointed body. Similar to the Friendship Dolls of this era, her finely modeled head and hands are covered in gofun, an oyster shell paste spread thinly to create a pale, smooth complexion. She is wrapped in a kimono with a kinran brocade, obijime belt cinch, tabi socks, and zori sandals.
This doll’s delicate modeling of her hands, ears, and facial structure are indicative of the celebrated doll workshop of Gōyō II. This artist also participated in the 1927 Friendship Doll Exchange between the United States and Japan, and he was the first doll artist to be designated a Ningen Kokuhō (Living National Treasure) in 1955.
Status
Not on view
