| Geisha dolls are created in the image of the one of the main icons of traditional Japanese culture. A Geisha is a woman artiste proficient in dance, music, and conversing with the audience. There were numerous Geishas in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, though today, their numbers are diminishing. The Geisha dolls have been meticulously made, to capture the exotic appearance of the real Geishas. Combining innocence with sophistication, the dolls represent the sensuality coupled with modesty that Japanese women reflect.
The faces of the Geisha dolls mimic the makeup used by the real girls. This implies the face being painted with a thick white base with red lipstick and broad red and black lining surrounding the eyes and the eyebrows. Just below the hairline, a thin strip of skin is left free of makeup to give the impression of the girl wearing a mask. The area just below the nape of the neck is also free of makeup to provide a subtle erotic effect. The doll is clothed in a multi-hued kimono with a patterned obi. On the feet, the doll may wear a flat-soled sandal or a clog. Some Geishas wear their hair down, while others style their hair in the form of a Chignon, which involves the hair being raised into a bun and held in place with hairpins. Almost every intricate detail of the real Geisha is captured in the doll, which could well be collector’s items.
Alongside Geisha dolls, there are also Maiko dolls. A Maiko is a trainee Geisha and her appearance and dress may slightly differ from a full-fledged Geisha. The Geisha dolls are mostly handmade with attention to detail, the body made of porcelain, clothed in authentic silk brocade kimonos, and resting on a lacquered wooden base. Some dolls carry accessories, such as Tsuzumi drums, parasols, baskets, and hats adding to the realism of the artifact. |
