Kimekomi ningyo doll holding a hagoita pallet, signed Yajima Sumie

This unusual kimekomi ningyo doll is shown wearing a beautiful silk kimono with a floral pattern. In her hand she holds a hagoita - a traditional Japanese palette for playing hanetsuki (a game similar to badminton), popular especially during the New Year period. The palette is decorated with a beautiful cherry blossom (sakura) pattern. The doll is wearing a richly decorated fukuro obi belt, harmoniously matching the rest of her outfit, as well as elegant hair clips and a comb. The accompanying wooden box in which the doll is kept bears an inscription that can be translated as "unmarried woman." the doll is signed with the name Yajima Sumie. The doll also comes with a lacquered stand, also signed with the doll's name ("unmarried woman") and, again, Yajima Sumie's name. It is worth mentioning here that this doll is very unusual, especially in terms of the ceramic elements, such as the doll's hands and face, which allude with their features to the once-popular French porcelain dolls.

Dimensions of the box: 16.3 x 22.7 x 24.5 cm
Dimensions of the doll: width at the base: 17,5 cm, height: 12 cm
Dimensions of the base: 19 x 27 cm
Author: Yajima Sumie
Dating: late 19th and early 20th century