Isho Costume Doll
Twentieth Century
23 cm high x 10.7 cm wide
Cat. 271682.13
Gift of Nathanial Grey
© The Field Museum

This costume doll, part of a set, is of a type commonly known in the West as "geisha dolls", popular among tourists of Japan. While the doll itself is not as nice as better dolls of this or other types, these can show off nicely the different styles of modern kimono wear. This young maika, or apprentice geisha, doll wears a green furisode, or long sleeved kimono, worn by younger women, with a white nagajuban long under-kimono underneath, and a very long, unusual hanging obi sash knot, popular among women of the entertainment classes. Her furisode has an allover woven pattern of plum blossoms, pine, and chrysanthemum, and her obi has a pattern of various mon, or crests. The doll depicts a dancer from a scene in the dance play Kyo Kanoko Musume Dojoji, who dances with seven flat red hats.


(Commentary by Helena Stenberg)

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