East Meets West at Next-to-New

You never know what treasures will appear in the Next-to-New trove.  Currently, the shop has on offer a number of extraordinary examples of traditional Japanese dolls.  Japan has a long history of doll making, from simple toys for children to elaborate artistic creations meant only to be displayed and admired.  Beginning in the late 17th century, skilled artisans began crafting the isho-ningyo (fashion doll) modeled after famed kabuki actors, admired courtesans, mythological heroes, and legendary lovers.  A subcategory of the isho-ningyo was the bijin-ningyo, beautiful woman dolls.  Over the centuries, the dolls came to represent a wider view of Japanese life.  Following WWII, the "geisha" doll in her lacquered case was a popular souvenir for Western tourists.  This vintage isho-ningyo portrays a lovely woman in a traditional kimono strolling with her infant securely strapped to her back.  

Her flawless white complexion is of gofun, a mixture of glue and ground oyster shells.  It takes time and skill to make and apply this delicate finish.   

Her original lacquer case is not only unusual because of it red lacquer finish, but also the painted decoration on the base.  Most ningyo display cases are of unadorned black or brown lacquer.

Another Japanese beauty with the gofun finish.  

Under her tradition black lacquer stand is the label of the Nishi Doll Company.  

In a flowing cream kimono printed with butterflies, this bijin-ningyo poses in the more typical dark lacquer case.  Her hairstyle is especially elaborate.

She even has a butterfly perched on one hand.

Her serene face is not of the traditional gofun, but is of painted fabric.  Beginning in the 1920s, Japanese companies began producing doll faces of painted silk fabric for women to use to create their own dolls at home.  Subsequently, doll manufacturers started to use fabric faces as they were easier to manufacture and less costly than gofun.  These faces were used extensively on souvenir dolls marketed to Western tourists after WWII.  Nishi Doll Company, for example, made its later dolls almost exclusively with fabric faces. 

Also in her original lacquer case, this exceptionally large and lovely bijin-ninyo holding a samurai helmet represents Princess Yaegaki-hime.  Her tale is rather complicated; it is sort of like Romeo and Juliet, but with a happy ending. Two powerful noble families are feuding. The princess belongs to one family and her lover to the other. The princess’ family has stolen a magical helmet that belongs to their rivals. At one point the princess seeks to flee her father’s palace and return the helmet to her lover, who is in danger, but she is blocked by a frozen lake. The princess performs a dance with the helmet, summoning magical fox spirits (kitsune) who lead her across the lake. She returns the helmet to her lover, the families make peace, the lovers marry, and everybody lives happily ever after.  The story is told both in bunraka (ancient Japanese puppetry) and kabuki theater.  Yaegaki-hime is typically portrayed in the midst of her dance, holding up the helmet and sometimes accompanied by one or more white foxes.  Another subset of isho-ningyo are dolls portraying kabuki characters, sometimes referred to as takeda-ningyo (takeda derives from the name of a famous early kabuki theater).

Princess Yaegaki-hime also has a painted fabric face.  

There is a label on her base identifying her, but it distorts the traditional story.  It may have been an issue of translation.