A striking vintage Nara Ittobori (奈良一刀彫) wooden figure depicting Shōjō (猩々), a legendary figure closely associated with classical Japanese Noh theatre.
Nara Ittobori, also known as Nara Ningyō (奈良人形), is a traditional woodcarving craft of Nara distinguished by its bold, faceted chisel work and richly painted decoration. The tradition is said to have developed from painted wooden figures used in connection with the Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri, and later became particularly associated with figures inspired by Noh, court dance, seasonal festivals and auspicious subjects.
This figure represents Shōjō, the mysterious, joyful spirit celebrated in the famous Noh play of the same name. In the story, Shōjō appears beside the river to drink sake with the virtuous wine seller Kōfū, dancing joyfully before rewarding him with a sake jar that never runs dry.
The carving beautifully captures the unmistakable character of Nara Ittobori. Deep angular cuts have been deliberately left visible, creating a lively sculptural surface rather than attempting to conceal the marks of the chisel.
