DOLLS OF JAPAN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 417, 29 December 1932, Page 2

DOLLS OF JAPAN

YARY FROM HALF AN INCH If all the little girls could possess such exquisite dolls as those that are owned by the daughters of Japan, they would be luclcy indeed (states Lady Patricia Ward in the "Daily Mail"). But there can he few toys modelled with a tithe of the delicacy, beauty and perfection of detail which distinguishes tb,e 400 dolls arrang'ed on shelves round a room in the Arlington Galleries, Old Bond street, London, W., recently. They were Japanese ceremonial dolls; important, highly treasured toys which are only played with by their little owners on the yearly occurrence of "0 Hina Matsuri." the Girl's Festivall and Feast of Dolls. Many of these dolls, which are heirlooms rather than playthings, have been handed down from mother to daughter through countless generat;ons, and even the more modern ones are objects of veneration in the families to which they belong. They had been collected and (fasplayed by the Japan Society in aid of the Cheyne Hospital for Children. They varied from half an inch to two feet in height, and were clad in richly embroidered kimonos or the full regalia of the Court dress, complete with wigs, elaborate head-dress-es,. and diminutive fans or swords. Luggage to Scale Each was providpd with f urniture and luggage of black-and-gold lacquer made to scale; and the life-like expressions on their tiny lacquersd faces were things at which to marvel. In the set belonging to6 Matsako Matsudaira, the l^-year-pld daughter of the Japanese Amhas»sador, the doll Emperor was dignifiecl in a flowing black silk kiipono, his Empress resplendent in scarlet and gold emhroideries. Three ladies-in-waiting, two bearded soldiers banishing swords, five musicians playing a vari'ety of instruments, tbree laughing servants, and 32 tiny pieces of luggage embla,?;oned with the Matsudaira family crest completed the set. N'ear by stood the dolls belonging to the AmbassadPr's son, comprising fearsome models of warriors or mythical gods; some in , full armour, others on horseback. and. banishing glittering weapons. For the boy's festival is also a yearly event in Jap.an, The exhibition, which was under the patrouage of Mrpe. . Matsudaira, the Japanese Ambassador's wife, was opened hy Princess Arthur of Connaught. ...