SPECIAL! This is a vintage handcrafted folk doll from Nagasaki, Japan, styled to a figure in traditional Chinese 丑角 (chǒu jué), a clown or comic character from Chinese opera, particularly Peking Opera. These types of dolls often reflect cultural exchange and appreciation, especially notable in a historically international port city like Nagasaki.
The doll stands upright and has a cylindrical body made of fabric with a wooden or papier-mâché head. Its face is hand-painted in a stylized manner, featuring bold black brushstrokes for the eyes, eyebrows, and cheeks, along with a small red mouth. It wears a small rounded hat with red and black stripes and a red finial on top.
The gold and dark robe blend Chinese theatrical costume elements with Japanese textile craftsmanship. The character embroidered on the robe symbolize happiness and double prosperity. In Peking Opera, 丑角 (chǒu) roles are crucial for injecting humor and humanizing the drama. Their painted faces and expressive performances convey irony, intelligence, and street-smart cleverness. Japanese artisans often created such dolls during the mid-20th century for cultural export and tourism.
