Hina-Matsuri Stage thumbnail 1
Hina-Matsuri Stage thumbnail 2
+15
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Imagine Gallery, Living Together, Case 3

This object consists of 26 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Hina-Matsuri Stage

1800-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Model of a palace (Goten), of cypress, partly painted and enriched with lacquer and brass mounts. The gabled roof, which is slightly concave in front and behind, is supported in front and on the sides by broad eaves with sloping beams. The interior consists of one chamber with straw-work floor raised at the back to form a daïs; the paper side-walls are painted with leaves and each of the four parchment panels at the back with a bird amid floral sprays; the front and half of each side is open and surrounded by a railed verandah closed at each end by a door painted with a fir tree and in the centre connected with the ground by a flight of five steps with a balustrade. With the model are twenty-three figures all with enamelled faces and hands, dressed in costumes varied in colour and texture; also a pine tree, a flowering shrub, a trellis, a basket and various small objects.

The scene represents probably the marriage of the Mikado (Tenjin Sama) with a princess (O Hime Sama); they are seated side by side on the daïs (Gyokuza) and on their right and left stand the two highest state officials (Udaijin and Sadaijin); three kneeling girls offer the rice wine (saké) to the bride and bridegroom, while the rest of the personages include two military retainers (Samurai), strolling musicians (Manzai) and various servants. The Takasago Pine, beneath which stand the grandmother (Baba) and grandfather (Jiji) is typical of longevity.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 26 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Model
  • Palace
  • Model Building
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Doll
  • Model
  • Model
  • Doll
Materials and techniques
Painted hinoki cypress, brass, paper, parchment, enamel, silk, straw-marquetry
Brief description
Model palace (Goten); cypress and brass, Japanese, with dolls and other objects, 1800-1899
Physical description
Model of a palace (Goten), of cypress, partly painted and enriched with lacquer and brass mounts. The gabled roof, which is slightly concave in front and behind, is supported in front and on the sides by broad eaves with sloping beams. The interior consists of one chamber with straw-work floor raised at the back to form a daïs; the paper side-walls are painted with leaves and each of the four parchment panels at the back with a bird amid floral sprays; the front and half of each side is open and surrounded by a railed verandah closed at each end by a door painted with a fir tree and in the centre connected with the ground by a flight of five steps with a balustrade. With the model are twenty-three figures all with enamelled faces and hands, dressed in costumes varied in colour and texture; also a pine tree, a flowering shrub, a trellis, a basket and various small objects.

The scene represents probably the marriage of the Mikado (Tenjin Sama) with a princess (O Hime Sama); they are seated side by side on the daïs (Gyokuza) and on their right and left stand the two highest state officials (Udaijin and Sadaijin); three kneeling girls offer the rice wine (saké) to the bride and bridegroom, while the rest of the personages include two military retainers (Samurai), strolling musicians (Manzai) and various servants. The Takasago Pine, beneath which stand the grandmother (Baba) and grandfather (Jiji) is typical of longevity.
Dimensions
  • Palace height: 830mm (approx)
  • Palace width: 910mm (widest point) (Note: The roof is the widest part.)
  • Palace depth: 650mm (including front steps)
Production typeUnique
Gallery label
A home for a celebration Once a year in Japan, girls have a festival to celebrate their health and happiness. There are parties with colourful food and decorations. Miniature stages like this display dolls of the Emperor and Empress of Japan getting married. The wedding scene is believed to bring good luck. This is a particularly grand stage, made by very skilled craftspeople. [Young V&A, Imagine Gallery long object label](2023)
Credit line
Given by Mrs R.P. Scott
Object history
Given to the museum in 1903 by Mrs Rebecca P. Scott [MA/1/S948].

This object was displayed at the Whitechapel Gallery in 1902 as part of a Japanese Exhibition (23 July - unknown date), and later at an exhibition in Birmingham. However, upon entry to the museum it was subsequently declined and it was noted to be 'of rather poor workmanship and considerably damaged and does not compare favourably with [museum nos.] 185-1874 and 389-1878' (both were later deaccessioned). It was then recommended at a museum meeting of 5 May 1903 for display at the Bethnal Green Museum.
Historical context
This model might more correctly be called a dolls’ festival stage (hina-matsuri) – it has been executed in the Japanese shinden-zukuri style of architecture, which was commonly used the in the Heian period (794-1185) for Imperial residences and administrative buildings, and more modestly for aristocratic residences. This style was presented on a grand scale by Japan at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.


The model is not a representation of a specific building. The architectural construction and fittings are mostly accurate, it features transoms with lacquer frames and metalwork above the single bay front, stairs and railings, roof and raftering. Some of the details are simplified and inaccurate however, in particular the way the shutters (shitomido) are glued to the nageshi (decorative lintels).


The front stairs and the chrysanthemum motif roundels on the roof ridge indicate that the building is of the court. The four sliding door panels may be indicate a Teikan-zu type Chinese emperor scene, which with the emperor and empress located seated in the centre is the basis for hina-matsuri.
Subjects depicted
Association
Collection
Accession number
354-1903

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
Record URL
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