Non geisha doll with mage hairstyle of early Edo period.

The entire look basically says it all. The female geishas had yet to exist and before they would come to dominate female based entertainment, there were ladies such as this doll depicts. Her hair is piled high with an Olive Oyl style hair while an elaborate bun held by strings and a hair stick complete it entirely. Her kimono and obi is another indication of the age to come when female geishas emerged. It does not have the formal fold that is seen later in the Edo period going into the Meiji. The obi is thinner and ribbon like and there is a long cord like material on top of it. It is something I had never seen before and I suspect a lot of other people did not either. Her auction was one of the most fiercest I have ever participated in. You can bet she cost me a pretty penny. Now you see why........