Yoshitomo Nara (1959) - Miss Forest 森の子

Yoshitomo Nara (1959) - Miss Forest 森の子 - Shitakawara-yaki clay figure, Aomori Museum of Art - unused, with original box - #C133A

[Overview]

This is a clay figure of "Miss Forest" (森の子, Mori no Ko), the sculpture by Yoshitomo Nara (b. 1959) at the Aomori Museum of Art, produced as official museum merchandise. It is unused and complete with its original printed box, and the edition is now sold out at the museum.

Yoshitomo Nara, born in Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture, is among the most internationally collected Japanese artists of his generation, with work in the collections of MoMA, LACMA and the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. "Miss Forest" — a tall, tapering figure with a serene face and closed eyes, part tree and part guardian spirit — is one of his best-loved sculptural motifs, and the version at his home prefecture's museum has become a landmark for visitors.

For this figure the museum turned to Shitakawara-yaki (下川原焼), the traditional clay-doll craft of Hirosaki, which dates back to the early nineteenth century. The piece is hand-formed and hand-painted by local craftsmen: a pale green body, a white face with arched brows, pink cheeks and a small red mouth. Because the painting is done by hand, no two are exactly alike, and the unglazed clay has the warm matt surface characteristic of the craft.

The original box is included, printed in green with the name of the Aomori Museum of Art and an image of the figure.

[Key Features]

・Clay figure of Yoshitomo Nara's sculpture "Miss Forest" (森の子), official Aomori Museum of Art merchandise.
・Unused, complete with its original printed museum box; the edition is now sold out.
・Hand-made and hand-painted in Shitakawara-yaki, the traditional clay-doll craft of Hirosaki — the artist's home town.
・A meeting of a globally collected contemporary artist and a two-hundred-year-old regional folk craft.

[Estimated Period / Background]

Produced after 2000. The Aomori Museum of Art opened in 2006 in Nara's home prefecture and holds a major body of his work; the museum commissioned local Shitakawara-yaki craftsmen to reproduce his sculptures as clay dolls in the regional folk tradition. The edition has since been discontinued.

[Condition]

Excellent condition. The figure is unused, clean and undamaged, with crisp hand-painted details. The original box is present. Please refer to the photos, which form part of the description.

[Dimensions / Weight]

Height: approximately 10 cm
Width: approximately 4.5 cm
Depth: approximately 5 cm
Weight: approximately 75 g (101 g with its box)
Original box: approximately H 13 × W 6.5 × D 6.5 cm

[Provenance / Notes]

From a Japanese collection. Reference: #C133A

[Shipping]

The item will be packed carefully using appropriate protective materials and shipped from Japan by FedEx or DHL. Tracking information will be provided after shipment.

Please note: import duties, taxes and customs clearance fees are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the responsibility of the buyer and vary by country — please check with your local customs office before bidding.