Catalog Number
|
Catalog Number |
CAS 1993-0001-0042A-D | |
| Category | Folk Toys | |
| Object Name | Rattles (4 seeds) | |
| Culture | Japanese | |
| Global Region | East Asia | |
| Country | Japan | |
| State/Prov./Dist. | Miyazaki Prefecture | |
| County | ||
| Other Geographic Data | unknown | |
| Maker's Name | Unknown | |
| Date of Manufacture | ca. 1966 | |
| Collection Name | Kadota Collection (Japanese Folk Toys) | |
| Materials | Seeds or nut casings; Paint; Varnish; Commercial cordage | |
| Description | Four small rattles, each made from a hollowed shell of a nut or the pit of a fruit, which has small hole cut into each side and then cut open along the bottom and pried apart enough to insert a small brass bell inside; A third small hole has been cut near the top of each casing to insert a looped string; Three of the rattles are painted with he faces of kappa, spirits that usually live in lakes, ponds or streams and have both Shinto and Buddhist attributes and are usually depicted with the body of a tortoise and a cavity or bald spot atop the head which holds its strength-giving fluid; Kappa are generally the size of a small child but incredibly strong, capable of dragging horses cattle, and humans into the water and draining them of life; thus children are warned to be especially careful when playing near water; Each of these kappa rattles is painted with a red pointed beak, large black and white eyes, black hair and a blue bald spot atop their heads; The fourth rattle is painted with the face of a small child, with only the face shown, apparently wrapped in a green headscarf; Artist’s signature or other information is written in white paint in Japanese script on reverse side of the fourth rattle. | |
| Dimensions (cm) | Max Diam = 2.4, Length = 2.7 | |