Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2008-0004-0003A,B   CAS 2008-0004-0003A,B; Figurine (man)
Category Folk Toys
Object Name Figurine (man)
Culture Japanese
Global Region East Asia
Country Japan
State/Prov./Dist. Kyoto Prefecture
County
Other Geographic Data City: Kyoto
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1930s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Bamboo; Papier mâché [paper mache]; Paint; Cotton string
Description Small figurine of a man dressed in a red robe and standing atop a section of bamboo to which is affixed on the underside a small bamboo trigger inserted through a length of tightly twisted pink cotton string; A separate head covering (possibly depicting a closed umbrella and shaped like a large thimble) fits over the figurine’s head, and when the bamboo trigger is pulled back and released, the figurine flips over, revealing his true identity and landing upright.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 5.9, Width = 3.0, Length = 7.0