{"product_id":"early-showa-hakata-style-ura-e-figure-sleeping-lovers-crane-quilt-hidden-shunga","title":"Early Showa Japanese Ceramic Hakata-Style Ningyo Doll, Ura-e Art Statue of Sleeping Lovers Beneath a Crane Quilt, Hidden Shunga Underside","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"jp-product\" data-world=\"Japan Luxury Archive\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-lede\"\u003eAn early Showa figure of two lovers asleep beneath a quilt painted with a great white crane, modelled in the manner of the Hakata doll makers, with a concealed shunga scene beneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-note\"\u003eThis piece belongs to the private room of the house and is shown to adults only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom above, all is propriety. A man with a shaven pate and a woman in an elaborate coiffure lie side by side, eyes closed, under a lavender quilt painted with a white crane in flight, emblem of fidelity and a sly guardian of the secret. His robe is indigo; hers are layered in ochre check over red hemp-leaf, with flowered ornaments in her hair. The faces have the soft, pale finish of Hakata dolls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe secret lies underneath. Turned over, the figure reveals an ura-e, a hidden picture: the lovers' intimate embrace, modelled and painted on the underside. Such concealed scenes belong to a long tradition of humour in Japanese erotic art. The figure is described as an early Showa adult curiosity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDetails\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"jp-details\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eForm:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ura-e okimono, a figure group with a concealed scene beneath\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Painted fired clay, as it appears\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e Early Showa period, as described\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e About 18 cm (7.1 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDepth:\u003c\/strong\u003e About 14 cm (5.5 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e About 9 cm (3.5 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Japan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasured by hand; please allow a gentle margin of about 0.5 cm (0.2 in).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLight rubbing to the paint and some colour transfer from age.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo breaks or serious damage seen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe white panel on the underside photograph was added in photography for discretion and is not part of the figure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition grade \u003cstrong\u003eB (very good)\u003c\/strong\u003e on the Japanese scale; see \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/news\/japanese-condition-ranks-explained\"\u003eJapanese condition ranks, explained\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAuthenticity \u0026amp; Care\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOffered as an early Showa painted figure, as described; unsigned, and the date is not independently certified. Dust with a soft dry brush; keep from damp and sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDelivery from Japan\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe figure is double boxed in tissue and foam and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Every sale is final; please ask anything you wish to know before you buy, and see our \u003ca href=\"\/policies\/refund-policy\"\u003epublished policy\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"jp-closing\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eConsidered offers are welcome through Send an Offer, and each one is reviewed personally. Further pieces of the kind are kept in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/shunga-hidden-arts\"\u003eShunga and Hidden Arts\u003c\/a\u003e and among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/japanese-dolls-ningyo\"\u003eJapanese dolls\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"jp-cta\" data-world=\"Japan Luxury Archive\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-cta-eyebrow\"\u003eConcierge\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSearching for other hidden-scene dolls or okimono? Our Hunting Salon™ locates such pieces across Japan's private collector circles, then inspects, documents and delivers them to you. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hunting-salon%E2%84%A2\"\u003eBegin a Hunting Salon™ request\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-search\"\u003eCollectors also search: Hakata ura-e doll · hidden shunga figure · Showa erotic okimono\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown Maker","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54483469336869,"sku":"JP-CL-P1224158525","price":725.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/8829\/6229\/files\/hakata-ura-e-couple-01.jpg?v=1794591956","url":"https:\/\/japonista.com\/products\/early-showa-hakata-style-ura-e-figure-sleeping-lovers-crane-quilt-hidden-shunga","provider":"Japonista","version":"1.0","type":"link"}