Help with Japanese/Chinese figures

[jtw1313]

Not sure what these are but they caught my eye......... The back seems filled with stone or something these are pretty weird...... Maybe someone will recognize the symbols

 

[SoCalDesertFox]

Looks like a vintage Hakata doll. I can only make out 'Kotobuki' on the left facing one.

 

[jtw1313]

Do you need better pics? Why are they filled with something or atleast it looks that way

 

[SoCalDesertFox]

The pics are fine, the detailing it just so marred physically on the dolls.

Gonna sound weird but I suggest a density test. This might indicate what these are filled with, if filled with anything at all.

The 'filling' on the back, however, appears to be a fixing plaster or epoxy. These might have been part of a backdrop for a Hakata Doll theater.

 

[jtw1313]

I think they were holding something to...... How old could these be? That is what I got them for they seem very old to me

 

[SoCalDesertFox]

Second glance, I think I can make out Ne Ayano through the dripping on the other doll.

These could be as old as a few hundred years or as young as a few decades. The real test will be getting the ceramic and the backfilling analyzed to determine the age.

 

[SoCalDesertFox]

Just so you know, these are definitely Japanese.

 

[jtw1313]

Thank you socal........going to look into them more when I get some time Maybe someone else will comment also

 

[jtw1313]

Noticed a hole on both in the back at bottom

Like the were attached to something

 

[SoCalDesertFox]

Like the were attached to something

Yep, Theatre dolls. Dowels would go inside them. The 'performers' held the dolls from underneath.

Now to find out what era those were made in. You're going to have to get a dating test done on the materials some how.

 

[jtw1313]

..........

........ Close up of back