Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
Mr. Dob Figure (Original Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
The Mr. Dob Figure (Original Edition), released in 2016 by BAIT, is a vinyl toy rendering of Takashi Murakami's signature avatar, produced in an edition of 750 and measuring 23.5 x 27.5 cm. Mr. Dob is the shape-shifting, big-eared character Murakami has built his practice around, here translated from canvas into a collectible three-dimensional object that anchors his Superflat vocabulary in tangible form.
Collector notes: Gold Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 750. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
Mr. Dob is Murakami's self-portrait and mascot in one, the recurring cipher through which he interrogates cuteness, consumerism, and Japanese pop identity. A vinyl edition places that concept directly in the collector's hands. The BAIT collaboration also situates the piece within the streetwear-meets-fine-art crossover that defines Murakami's cultural footprint, making it a compact statement of his blurring of high and low.
Collector Perspective
At an edition of 750, this figure sits in accessible-but-defined territory, more available than a limited print run yet finite enough to hold identity as a numbered object. Collectors are drawn to Mr. Dob as the most recognizable entry point into Murakami's world. Condition of the vinyl, retained packaging, and any original tags materially shape desirability, as they do across the collectible-toy market.
Historical Context
By 2016 Murakami had spent two decades cementing Mr. Dob as the nucleus of his Superflat theory, first sketched in the 1990s as a critique of otaku culture and market-driven imagery. The BAIT release arrived amid a broader wave of artist-designed vinyl figures, a format popularized through Japanese and streetwear channels that let Murakami's painterly icons reach a wider, object-hungry audience.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned sculpture / object
- Release date
- 2016
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Vinyl Toy; catalog dimensions 23.5 x 27.5 cm.
- Edition details
- Gold Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 750.
- Signature and marks
- Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Takashi Murakami's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: By 2016 Murakami had spent two decades cementing Mr. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2016 and attributes the edition to BAIT.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to BAIT. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Kaikai Kiki — official studio site — Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official studio/company site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Takashi Murakami — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Takashi Murakami (Q352437) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
Who produced this Mr. Dob figure?
It was released in 2016 by BAIT, the streetwear and collectibles retailer, as a vinyl toy depicting Takashi Murakami's Mr. Dob character.
How large is the edition?
The Original Edition was produced in a run of 750 figures.
What are its dimensions and medium?
It is a vinyl toy measuring 23.5 x 27.5 cm.
Who is Mr. Dob?
Mr. Dob is Takashi Murakami's signature character and quasi-self-portrait, a shape-shifting, big-eared figure central to his Superflat art movement since the 1990s.
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