Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 1993-0001-0229   CAS 1993-0001-0229; Gate model
Category Folk Toys
Object Name Gate model
Culture Japanese
Global Region East Asia
Country Japan
State/Prov./Dist. unknown
County
Other Geographic Data
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1970
Collection Name Kadota Collection (Japanese Folk Toys)
Materials Wood; Paint
Description Miniature model of a torii gate, which marks the entrance of nearly all Shinto shrines and represents the transition from the profane to the sacred; Assembled from several pieces of wood, this model consists of two rows of pillars (2 short ones and a taller center one) with crossbars linking the pillars in each row; Shorter pillars are topped with square caps; Larger central pillars are joined by a heavy lintel with upturned ends; Pillars are all painted orange, while the caps on the smaller pillars and the upper portion of the lintel are painted brown; Ridge line of lintel is painted black; Pair of wooden plaques suspended from center of lintel bear several Japanese characters, possibly identify the location of this particular gate.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 9.0, Width = 11.2, Depth = 5.8