Catalog Number
|
Catalog Number |
CAS 1993-0001-0281A,B | |
| Category | Folk Toys | |
| Object Name | Puppets (2 warriors) | |
| Culture | Japanese | |
| Global Region | East Asia | |
| Country | Japan | |
| State/Prov./Dist. | Aichi Prefecture | |
| County | ||
| Other Geographic Data | City: Nagoya | |
| Maker's Name | Unknown | |
| Date of Manufacture | ca. 1970s | |
| Collection Name | Kadota Collection (Japanese Folk Toys) | |
| Materials | Bamboo; Wood; Paper; Clay; String; Monofilament line | |
| Description | Pair of warrior animated puppet-like toys, based on legendary episode in life of Yoshitsune (formerly known as Ushiwaka), one of Japan’s most famous heroes; A: Benkei, male warrior with white clay head and painted hair, posed with outstretched arms; Wooden body is covered in paper to represent red kimono, with white over jacket and green apron; Silver foil paper sword is held in right hand and yellow paper shield (?) is held in left hand; Figure is mounted on bamboo stick,whose base, is inserted into a bamboo cylinder with pair of holes cut into its upper side, opposite each other; Monofilament line passes through the whole and wraps around bamboo stick supporting figure, with ends of monofilament line tied to a bow shaped piece of bamboo; When the bow-shape is moved back and forth like a violin bow, the monofilament wrapped around the central stick causes the doll to rotate; B: Ushiwaka, male warrior with gray clay head, posed with upraised arms; Silver foil paper ornament is behind the head, possibly representing part of the armor; Wooden body is wrapped in white paper skirt, red upper garment, and black apron; Arms are each made from two paper cylinders and hold a long handled spear with a silver foil paper blade at one end; Figure is mounted on a split piece of bamboo, with a notched crossbar passing through the split; A section of string is tied to each side notch on the crossbar, passing up through the doll’s skirt and along his torso and through his arms and then tied off on the spear handle; When either end of the crossbar is moved up or down, the strings pull down on one of the doll’s arms, causing the spear to change position as if being thrust. | |
| Dimensions (cm) | Height = 29.8, Width = ca. 17.0, Depth = 5.4 | |