Model Box
1880-1930 (made)
| Place of origin |
This miniature box for letters or documents is part of a Japanese Dolls' Festival (hina matsuri) set. The Dolls' Festival is traditionally celebrated by girls on 3rd March. This box contains two knives to cut paper. Such knives are normally kept in a box for writing implements (suzuribako). It is likely, therefore, that at some time they became separated from their original box.
The focal point of the Dolls' Festival festival is the display of dolls, miniature furniture and household accessories on tiered shelves in the home. The furniture and accessories are modelled on wedding sets which formed part of the dowry of elite women. Such sets, which usually included more than 50 objects, were intended as ceremonial showpieces to show off the family's wealth and status. They included bathing and toilet articles, items connected with clothes, writing implements and those for eating and drinking. This Dolls' Festival group consists of several incomplete sets of miniature lacquer furniture and daily utensils, to which this box belongs.
The focal point of the Dolls' Festival festival is the display of dolls, miniature furniture and household accessories on tiered shelves in the home. The furniture and accessories are modelled on wedding sets which formed part of the dowry of elite women. Such sets, which usually included more than 50 objects, were intended as ceremonial showpieces to show off the family's wealth and status. They included bathing and toilet articles, items connected with clothes, writing implements and those for eating and drinking. This Dolls' Festival group consists of several incomplete sets of miniature lacquer furniture and daily utensils, to which this box belongs.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 7 parts.
|
| Brief description | Miniature box containing two knives, lacquered wood and gold hiramaki-e (lit. flat sprinkled picture), part of a hina-matsuri (Dolls' Festival) set, Japan, late 19th century-early 20th century |
| Physical description | Miniature lacquer box decorated in gold hiramaki-e with peonies, floral volutes and mon (family crests) with two ring handles and tassels, containing two knives for paper. |
| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Fumie Kosuge |
| Summary | This miniature box for letters or documents is part of a Japanese Dolls' Festival (hina matsuri) set. The Dolls' Festival is traditionally celebrated by girls on 3rd March. This box contains two knives to cut paper. Such knives are normally kept in a box for writing implements (suzuribako). It is likely, therefore, that at some time they became separated from their original box. The focal point of the Dolls' Festival festival is the display of dolls, miniature furniture and household accessories on tiered shelves in the home. The furniture and accessories are modelled on wedding sets which formed part of the dowry of elite women. Such sets, which usually included more than 50 objects, were intended as ceremonial showpieces to show off the family's wealth and status. They included bathing and toilet articles, items connected with clothes, writing implements and those for eating and drinking. This Dolls' Festival group consists of several incomplete sets of miniature lacquer furniture and daily utensils, to which this box belongs. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.23:1 to 7-2003 |
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| Record created | March 10, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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