Matsuri [Festival]

Inspiration for this doll was taken from the traditional art of shishimai [lion dance].
The lion dance is often performed at New Year or on other religious festivals and involves people dressed as a great lion dancing to the beat of festival drums. It is categorized as “folk entertainment,” also believed to fend off evil spirits and is thought of as an auspicious event.
According to the artist, this is a scene of shishimai being performed at a New Year celebration. The energy exuding from the doll makes it feel like you can actually hear the festival drums. The lion’s head was carved by the artist out of camphor wood. They had previously carved a lion head for another piece and had found it so interesting that they made a second one, which is the one being held by this doll now.

The Kodai-gire used for this costume is an indigo dyed cotton derived from the Edo period (1603-1868). While it is of a modest color, there is a certain unmistakable depth and character to it.
The trailing body of the lion is also Kodai-gire made from crepe, a kind of silk. It has been wrapped around the doll to bring out the beautiful patterns.

The artist became interested in creating a shishimai piece after seeing famous Japanese painter Itcho Hanabusa’s rendition of a shishimai, and coming across the cotton Kodai-gire used in this piece. This doll would be ideal to display as a talisman of good luck for the New Year.

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Artist
Setsuko Sekine

Production year
2012

Era of Kodai-gire
Edo period

Usage of Kodai-gire
kimono、lion's body fabric

Base
Keyaki (Japanese zelkova, no coating

Size (Doll)
d 12cm w 27cm h 18cm

Size (Base)
d 14cm w 35.5cm h 2cm

Size (Box)
d 18cm w 40cm h 26cm