Description:

East Asia, Japan, late Edo to early Meiji period, ca. 1800 to 1912 CE. Traditional Japanese puppet theatre involves the use of puppet dolls like this example to act out a chanted narrative called joruri as the music of a three-stringed lute called a samisen is played. This puppet is made of laquered wood; it is is comprised of a trunkless head as is customary, with long hair and an elaborate costume comprised of silken and cotton fabrics, sequins, ribbons, and fur trim, under which is a simple cotton undergarment and stuffed legs of the same fabric with wooden shoes attached. The term used for these performances, Bunraku, derives from the name of a troupe initially organized by Uemura Bunrakuken, an early 19th century puppet master. The term for puppetry is ayatsuri and the term for puppetry theatre is ayatsuri joruri. When used in performances, traditional narratives are told via the virtuosic handling of such puppets, and the result is poetry in motion! Comes with wooden stand. Size: 20.5" H (52.1 cm) including costume

Provenance: private Florida, USA collection

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#126119

  • Condition: Craquelure to paint/lacquer on the head. Costume shows some loose stitching, losses, and discoloration, but is in overall reasonable condition. One wooden foot missing. Stand is modern and made in America.

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August 31, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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