Ceremonial Dolls
mid C20th, Japanese, Hina
from a garage clear-out, Osaka, Japan
The emperor, 7" high, ceramic hands and head, dressed in the ornate robes of the imperial court. A set of these dolls are brought out annually and displayed on tiered shelving covered with red cloth for Hina Matsuri - The Doll festival also called Momo no Sekku - The Peach Festival. This happens in March on Girls Day; a celebration of daughters. The origins of the Festival go back several hundred years.
Miniature Possessions belonging to the Hina
the broom 4" long
The characters of the imperial court represented by the dolls include maids of honour serving sake to the royal couple, musicians, bodyguards, gardeners & ministers.
Maids of Honour
with golden sake ladle
8.5" high
In the past Hina were considered to be family members and when no longer used or wanted taken to the temple where they were cremated. Now they are more freely parted with. This set was donated to the Museum by the Sakurai family and sent to Orkney.
