Japanese Fashion Dolls

Dolls are used to showcase fashions, and have been popular for this function throughout the world for many years. Fashion Dolls are popular in Japan. In Japan as well as in Europe, some early Fashion dolls (and later specialty masterpieces) were carved one-of-a-kind wood dolls. Some European fashion dolls were sent to important people in remote areas to illustrate the current fashions worn at the court. After receiving these European fashion dolls, a woman could then commission a currently fashionable wardrobe in time for a court visit. Later European dressmakers (especially in France) advertised their talents with "fashion mannequins" where the dolls where scale models of fashions available from the dressmaker. Or they were used like a "business card" (in Europe and US) to showcase a dressmaker's abilities, so they might get commissions from wealthy fashionable people.

Special Life-size Fashion Mannequins
Special Life-size Fashion Mannequins were created to display important wardrobes in palaces, and museums, or as figures dressed appropriately to illustrate a particular world culture. Some of these specialty fashion mannequins (world-wide) can be grouped into an art doll category, and could be considered sculpted one-of-a-kind masterpieces - some (my favorites) were wooden masterpieces. Although these mannequins are fabulous, they are secondary to their function: stages to showcase the garments or as a part of a large diorama.

Will anyone share a photograph of a Japanese, life-sized, WOODEN, fashion mannequin?

ISHO NINGYO "Japanese Fashion or Costume Doll" / UKIYO NINGYO
 

Isho Doll, Seated Courtesan Edo Period - 18th century Private Collection Photo courtesy of the Kyoto National Museum Copyright 1996

Isho Ningyo have been described as "Japanese fashion dolls" because they represent figures (courtesans, "beauties", and ) dressed in the authentic, fashionable costumes of the time. This is not at all like the function of European fashion dolls (which were sent to important people in remote areas to illustrate the current fashions worn at the court. A woman could then commission a currently fashionable wardrobe in time for a court visit).

Isho (Costume) Doll: Sumo Wrestler Edo period, 18th C (Kyoto National Museum)

Isho (Costume) Doll: Dontaro Edo period, 18th C (Kyoto National Museum)

UKIYO NINGYO
Ukiyo dolls are a special form of Isho Ningyo. These dolls represented woman and young men of the pleasure quarters. Kyoto National Museum states that these dolls had special characteristics including kosode kimonos with slightly wide obi sashes, uchikake robes worn over normal clothing, and an absence of the traditional wide hairstyles for woman. These dolls were produced in great numbers during the Genoku Era (1688-1703) as dolls for adults. Some Ukiyo dolls are possibly portraits of some of the more popular courtesans. Ukiyo dolls are sometimes displayed in front of ukiyo-e woodblock prints depicting scenes from common life and from the "pleasure quarters". These dolls are anatomically correct even down to embedded hair, or they were grossly exaggerated as in ukiyo-e prints. Some believe that these prints might have inspired the creation of Ukiyo dolls. The Ukiyo dolls that I have seen have lost their clothes over the years, and each had rather unattractive faces. When I remarked about how homely the dolls faces were, the doll dealer stated, "people don't generally stare at these dolls' faces".

Other Japanese Dolls which occasionally function as Fashion Dolls

Hina Dolls of the Emperor and Empress

Emperor and Empress dolls found in displays for the Girl's Day Festival are dressed in the imperial fashions of a particular era. Special Seikon-no-gi (Imperial Wedding) Emperor and Empress dolls are dressed in replicas of the costumes worn at an imperial wedding as a commemoration of the event.

Ichimatsu Ningyo Fashion Dolls

Ichimatsu Ningyo "play dolls" (see below) are often dressed in authentic fashionable costuming and many have changeable clothes perhaps having a collection of many styles of wigs and multiple wardrobes.

Japanese Play Dolls

Is it a doll or a toy?
These little dolls are pure fun. They represent sumo wrestlers. They can be twirled around on the base till one knocks another down or off of the base.

Simple lathe turned Japanese toy
Sumo wrestlers as a child's top game
photo thanks to the Funk Collection

Ichimatsu Ningyo "play dolls" are a very popular types of doll. Some early ichimatsu ningyo were made of wood, but due to their popularity most are made in materials which can be easily mass-produced. Today Hirano Masamichi continues the hand-carved wood doll tradition by sculpting wonderful tri-fold Ichimatsu.

Ichimatsu dolls developed in the Edo period as playthings for samurai children. Some are tri-fold dolls which are hinged at the hip, knees, and ankles.

Some Japanese Ichimatsu Ningyo have changeable clothes - a collection of many styles of wigs, or multiple wardrobes. Some have "hangers" to display the kimonos that are not currently worn, or store each wig in a separate compartment of the doll storage / display box. The Ayervais collection has some antique "mitsu-ore" (3-fold) dolls that illustrate this doll function.
 

22" Realistic Toddler Ichimatsu photo thanks to Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art

Rosalie Whyel has a fabulous Japanese Ichimatsu Ningyo with an opaque flesh-colored gofun coating. This doll has been carved in an ultra realistic style. The folds of flesh on this fat toddler seem to ripple. The hands and feet are delicately posed, and incredibly realistic.  View the full-length photograph of this doll and you will want to make a trip to Seattle just to see this doll in person at the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art If you know anything about this mystery doll, or others like this doll, please let us know -  contact Jean Lotz.

This doll is also featured in their book, "THE ROSE UNFOLDS - Rarities of the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art" by Rosalie Whyel and Susan Hedrick where this doll is described as a mystery:

"So Little is know about this beautiful Japanese baby, boy that it leaves us with a yearning. Often even less than fifty years can cause a doll's history to be lost. We do know that the development of the ichimatsu or play doll in 19th century Japan progressed from the early misuore-ningyo (triple-jointed) lady dolls to a period - mid to late 19th century - where the dolls became more realistic and baby-like. Many characteristics of these dolls were emulated by later doll makers in Europe. This period seems to be the origin of our boy doll, although his the most realistic of the type that we have seen.

Such an artistically and accurately rendered doll - was it meant to be a child's toy or, as is traditional in Japan, a doll with a special meaning? The doll's kimono is sewn closed in the reverse of the correct manner; this is said to indicate the death of the wearer. Sukeo Kanabayashi, President of the Mataro Doll Academy in Japan, has suggested that this was probably done in error by a former owner, because dolls like these were not made as memorials. The folds of baby fat, anatomical correctness of a boy, two baby teeth and "breather nostrils," plus beautifully sculpted hands and feet - these all compel us to want to answer these questions. His nobleness is a treat to each of us, even though his origin remains a secret."

from THE ROSE UNFOLDS - Rarities of the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art.

In 1927 58 very special Ichimatsu were sent as a group to the US from Japan as "Ambassadors of Friendship". These "envoy dolls" were 32" tall and represented the quality doll making skills of many manufacturers and artists. They became commonly referred to as "Friendship Dolls". By 1937, they were resident in state museums and etc. all around the US. Some of the finest "envoy dolls" were gofun coated, carved wood sculpted by individual artists. Others were produced by Japanese factories showcasing their best workmanship and were made of gofun coated toso or papier-mâché.

Similar high quality Ichimatsu were also sent to some famous people in the 30's. For instance, Helen Keller and Shirley Temple each received such a doll.

As a result of the press that these special dolls received in the 30s, many ichimatsu were titled "friendship dolls," even though only the very special 58 that were sent all together in 1927 were specifically commissioned and produced for this purpose.

Unfortunately, time has taken its toll on these treasures, and many have been misplaced, or mistreated. There is an effort to locate each of the 58 special 1927 Envoy Dolls (15 have unknown whereabouts) and to insure that each of the surviving dolls is properly identified and cared for.

As noted above several of these Friendship Envoys were wooden dolls. Many of these wooden Ichimatsu dolls were carved in the traditional style used by Hirano Masamichi (see photos from Hirano's portfolio below). Note the shape of Hirano's doll hands - one is straight and the other is gracefully clasping something.

Ichimatsu Ningyo artist: Hirano Masamichi - Iwatsuki, Japan
 

Ichimatsu dolls by Hirano Masamichi photos from Hirano Masamichi's portfolio illustrating his carving process.

A Modern Japanese Artist Sculpting Traditional Japanese Dolls in wood Hirano, his brother, Satoji, and father, Kinzo, make traditional style dolls in either hand carved or molded wood/compo (made from paulownia sawdust). He makes a large number of molded heads for festival dolls but also makes carved Ichimatsu (Japanese "play" dolls). Hirano's Ichimatsu are "mitsu-ore" (3-fold) style dolls hinged at the hip, knees, and ankles. Hirano was featured in an April 1991 Doll Reader article. Thank you, Hirano Masamichi, for sending me your beautiful doll art portfolio. Thank you, Yutaka Hagi (Industry Promotion Division Labor, Commerce and Industry Department, Saitama Prefectural Government) for your help in contacting Hirano Masamichi, and for translating the text in Mr. Masamichi's portfolio.