Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 2003-0007-0003   CAS 2003-0007-0003; Marionette
Category Folk Toys
Object Name Marionette
Culture Japanese
Global Region East Asia
Country Japan
State/Prov./Dist. Hokkaido
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1970-1975
Collection Name N/A
Materials Papier mâché [paper mache]; Commercial cloth; String; Wood; Metal
Description Small marionette in the form of an Ainu man from far northern Japan; Figure's flat rectangular torso is made of papier mâché that is painted to represent his clothing, including a black undergarment and a red vest with decorative white paper panels along the front; Large pair of boots and two leaf shaped arms are attached to torso with pairs of wire loops; Arms and boots are all painted half red and half black; Large papier mâché head is painted dark olive green except for black hair and beard, and is also attached to torso with metal loops; Movement of the hands, feet, and head are separately controlled by red strings that are tied to short metal loops in each appendage and extend up through a wooden block where they are secured with staples; Upper face of wooden bar is imprinted in yellow Japanese script which reads "Folk art figure of person from northern Japan."
Dimensions (cm) Height = 14.5, Width = 11.5, Length = 26.3