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Japan
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Boys’ Day Figures (Item JAPAN 2-1) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Here are a pair of Samurai warriors handmade for the celebration of “Boy’s Day” held on May 5th. It was know as Tango-no-sekku, The Boys’ Festival. It has for centuries been Japan’s way of celebrating the healthy growth and development of her young boys. It is a very special day and is vastly important because it commemorates a boy’s life together with family and friends. It is a day when parents show their sons that they are strong and important to the family. No one knows for sure how Boy’s Day originated, however, it is believed that it started in ancient rural China. Guards wore special helmets and were woodsmen and archers. Another legend traces the origin to Tokimune Hojo’s victory over the invading Mongols on May 5, 1282. As a result Samurai families erected flags and flew kites in celebration of the victory. In the latter-day observance of Tango-no-sekku a display is arranged in the tokonoma or alcove, in the guest rooms of Japanese houses. Among the decorations are miniature Samurai warriors handcrafted by the young men and their fathers. Often the warrior dolls will represent Kintaro, the Herculean boy who grew up to be a general. Also often depicted was Skoki, an ancient Chinese general believed to protect people from devils and Momotaro, the Japanese David, the killer of giants. The earliest samples of the Samurai dolls trace back to the 18th century. These pieces were in those early times commissioned by the Samurai class thus making them quite rare today. During the time preceding the Second World War the dolls saw a real renaissance since all of Japan was under the influence of Bushido, the Way of the Warrior. This was not unlike the chivalry codes of European knighthood of old. The actual warriors were men who lived by the code of Bushido. The Samurai’s loyalty to his emperor and his overlord or Daimyo was unsurpassed. They were trustworthy and honest. The Samurai had no fear of death. They would enter into battle no matter what the odds. To die in battle would only bring honor to one’s family and one’s lord. The Samurai and their way of life was officially abolished in the early 1870’s, but it was not forgotten. However, Bushido was reborn in a big way in the 1930’s and 1940’s when the Black Dragon Society helped to bring it back in Imperial Japan. The signal for war in the Pacific was given on August 16, 1941, at a session of the Black Dragon Society in Tokyo. So Boys’ Day in these years took on very special significance in those prewar and wartime years considering that young men are the main tools of war and that militaristic fervor must be instilled in them so you can be sure that Black Dragon representatives were present at every one of the more important celebrations and the displays became more Samurai indoctrinated than any time before. The set of Boys’ Day dolls we offer here re typical of the ones used in wartime Japan. The great figures we offer here are typical, but a bit unusual in that they are a set of two mounted as a grouping. In the center of the plinth are two holes that make us assume that something else was at one time there, but what? We do not think it was another Samurai warrior, but it could have been a chest or a sword stand??? The figures are in wonderful condition. The standing figure is about 9 inches high, while the kneeling one is about 6 ½ inches high. The armor and fabric is all handmade as was the ancient tradition to accomplish. There were valuable prizes to be won by participants in the doll making and clearly from examples we have seen these figures would have no doubt been in the running for top prize. Even the eyes are so realistic as to marvel you.
PRICE: $350.00; the set |
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Wooden Hand-carved Netsukes (Item JAPAN 2-2) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Netsuke date back to the 17th century and became extremely popular in Europe as collectibles toward the end of the 19th century. They served both functional and aesthetical purposes. The traditional Japanese dress, the kimono, had no pockets. The robes were hung together by a broad sash (obi) so items were needed to be carried were held on a cord tucked under the sash. The hanging objects (sagemono) were secured with carved toggles (netsuke). Netsuke were also used to secure purses, and were widely used to hold the tobacco pouches that became almost universal with the introduction of smoking in Japan. The quality of netsuke was variable. As everyday objects many were carved quickly with left over materials. Netsuke could be made using a variety of materials mainly wood, and ivory (also shell, bone, horn, even metal and precious stones). Wealthier people would have finer netsuke, and it could be possible to tell the status of an individual by the quality of their netsuke. The workmanship is some is outstanding and despite their small size 1 to 2 inches, there can be considerable detail. Captured or killed Japanese soldiers often had netsuke on their person or in their gear. When questioned about this the answer was always—‘for luck.’ We managed to obtain a few of these from a man who collected them for many years. We were completely thrown by the apparent beauty and craftsmanship (they are completely hand carved) in a wood-like substance that we are given to understand these were carved from a type of nut that is found growing in the orient. We have several styles and shapes. Some are absolutely great! They do fit well into a Japanese WW II collection.
PRICE: $39.00 each; $32.00 each if you let us choose |
Page Six - Japan |
Please refer to item designator in parentheses in all correspondence.
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