Catalog Number
|
Catalog Number |
CAS 1993-0001-0300 | |
| Category | Folk Toys | |
| Object Name | Figurine (princess) | |
| Culture | Japanese | |
| Global Region | East Asia | |
| Country | Japan | |
| State/Prov./Dist. | Ehime Prefecture | |
| County | ||
| Other Geographic Data | City: Matsuyama | |
| Maker's Name | Unknown | |
| Date of Manufacture | ca. 1980 | |
| Collection Name | Kadota Collection (Japanese Folk Toys) | |
| Materials | Papier mâché [paper mache]; Paint | |
| Description | Papier mâché figurine of a princess, dressed in a red garment reminiscent of the dhoti worn by Indian priests and shown holding a single, gold tama or jewel in a black vessel, with a second tama depicted on her head; Designed to always stand upright; Historically, when Empress Jingu became pregnant, her yet unborn child (Emperor Ojin) was named “emperor in the womb,” to whom the gods had promised “three Han” (Korean) kingdoms that Empress Jingu later conquered; Emperor Ojin later had a wife name (Y)ehime, so the name of this doll might be a play on words and forms of a mother-child-wife trinity, as dolls of this type are made in several sizes, shown holding one, two, or three gold tama; Dolls such as this example, with one tama, are invoked for prosperity and safe childbirth, and are presented to new parents as a congratulatory gift; The first examples of this doll appeared in 1861 and were made from wood. | |
| Dimensions (cm) | Height = 7.7, Width = 5.9, Depth = 5.8 | |