Japanese Papier Mache and Cloth Vintage Cat Hand Puppet

This cat puppet! I really love it. Made in Japan, it dates I believe to the 1940s. The papier mache head is hand-painted,with fantastic bright blue eyes, pink ears, black nose, and blood red mouth, matched absolutely perfectly with a body stitched together from three different striped cotton fabrics. It's best sized for a small hand, though I managed to fit mine inside, with one finger in each armhole and another inside the opening to the head.  Oh, I would never tire of looking at this charming thing!

6 1/2" tall x 7" wide (with dress spread flat); head measures 1 5/8" wide x 2" deep x 1 3/4" tall. Very good condition, with just a bit of wear to black paint on the nose!