Description:
This exquisite doll is called a Hina doll. It is a Japanese festival doll.
On March 3rd, Japanese girls celebrate "Hina-no-Sekku" which is a girls day festival. The festival is held on the 3rd day of the 3rd month is a day of purification and cleansing of evil spirits. Originally, in the 1600s families would breathe on special paper dolls and send them down a river as a means of protecting their daughter from evil spirits.
The festival evolved to displaying dolls on Girl's Day as an extension of the superstition of having dolls ward off evil spirits. There is a special platform (hina dan) that the dolls were displayed upon. It was a stair step, multi-leveled platform that had a hierarchy of display. Level 1 = Emperor and Empress, Level 2 =the ministers of the right and left (udajin and sadaijin), level 3 = three ladies-in-waiting (kanjo), level 4 = musicians (hayashi) who represent an ensemble for a Noh play. Groups of actors are displayed as entertainment for the imperial couple. This doll is one of the cast for the Noh play and is a Butterfly Dancer. The butterfly symbolizes the coming of Spring when the peach blossom opens. The peach blossom, in turn, symbolizes the softness, daintiness, tranquility and gentleness-to which all girls should aspire. Please note, there are variations on the Hina doll display.
This doll is one of the Butterfly Dancers from the Noh play and would have been displayed on the 4th or subsequent levels.
This doll is made of paper and fabric and even a feather!. The doll's face seems to be carved wood and has hand painted delicate expressive face. The is dressed in an elaborate costume for the Noh play which includes the large headdress which is supposed to symbolize the peach blossom branch. The is wearing multiple media: paper, starched fabric, silks, pom poms, feather, foils, metal wires. She is also wearing butterfly wings are part of her costume. The wings are made of a light and airy cotton fabric and are attached to her outfit with strong paper spines. Her hands are delicate and molded out of some solid substance (perhaps cardboard covered in gofun which is a crushed shell substance) and are upturned over her head in an expressive dance movement. She is dancing upon a simple wooden stand/stage.
Measures: 7.75" tall x 4.75" wide x 2.75" deep.
OVerall she is in good vintage condition. Her hands are cracked where her wrists bend.
Please see photos.
Please email with questions.
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