A mid-20th-century Japanese display doll, often referred to as a Ningyo, in the style of the Nishi or Kyugetsu workshops. The figure depicts a female performer or geisha in a dynamic pose, holding an hourglass-shaped drum known as a tsuzumi. The doll is constructed with a face and hands made of gofun, a traditional white paste made from crushed oyster shells, providing a smooth, matte finish with hand-painted facial features. The figure wears a multi-layered kimono of silk and synthetic brocade, featuring a vibrant red and teal palette with floral and geometric motifs and metallic gold-coloured thread accents. Her black fibre hair is styled in an elaborate traditional arrangement, decorated with white floral kanzashi hair ornaments and a gold-coloured cord. The figure is secured to a simple, rectangular wooden base. No maker’s marks or labels are visible on the doll or the base.
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