Antique Ichimatsu Gofun Doll

Product Description

Antique Ichimatsu Gofun Doll

This is a Rare Antique Gofun Ichimatsu Doll from Japan c1880 to 1920. It is nicely detailed and made partially or completely of Gofun which is a composition of crushed oyster shell.  We are unsure if a proportion of the base is paper mache.  The facial paint is good with partial colour loss on the top lip.  It has nostril cavities.

There is a small scratch on the nose.  The Gofun Doll is Sawdust or straw filled. The Silk garments and torso are fragile in places.  The Doll is 10 inches Tall.

Gofun was made of calcium carbonate powder obtained by heating and pulverizing the shells of oysters and clams which are collected around the Inland Sea Cost.   It was used alone, or mixed with other pigments. Mixed with animal glue *nikawa 膠, it was used as a coating on a paper mache base.