Making the base, Gosho ningyo

There are four methods of making the base that forms the core of a gosho ningyo; 1: a base carved from paulownia wood; 2: a wooden core toso base whereby a wooden core is fleshed out by a wood composite called toso; 3: an unglazed pottery base whereby a clay figurine is created; and 4: a papier mâché base whereby thick Japanese paper is attached to a plaster mold, and the resulting form is improved using a toso wood composite.