Miniature Dolls in Wood Box

Miniature Dolls in Wood Box

Five miniature ceramic musician dolls (Gonin Bayashi) in lidded wooden box. A: Five ceramic figures painted white with gold eboshi shaped hats. Black painted eyebrows eyes and side hair red mouths. From left - drummer has painted orange cloak small orange square of silk glued to chest. Pink cords tied around neck. Two orange painted wood pegs extend from hands simulating drumsticks. Black painted drum has gold top and orange painted strings. Second figure is a flutist with painted green cloak orange diamond shaped silk glued to front. Red cord glued around neck. Hands held under chin with painted rods protruding from each side to simulate an orange and black flute. central figure is painted orange cloak with orange silk triangle glue to front orange cord tied around neck. Brown and blue spots of paint to simulate a book with orange and black lines. He is Utai Chanter. Fourth figure has painted green cloak with orange silk triangle tied to lower front. On right shoulder painted black and orange drum with gold and brown ends. Red cord glued around neck. Drummer on right has painted orange cloak with an orange silk triangle tied to front. Under left arm is painted red and orange hand drum with gold and brown ends. Each figure with its instrument is molded in one and glued to rectangular orange platform. B: Wood box bottom: rectangular shaped with lower front and grooves inside each end for lid. On bottom is red and white sticker with Japanese characters: "Kyoto Sanjoteramachi (temple st.) Misuyabari (store)" C: Rectangular wood sliding lid with a raised center attached wood end piece. On top of lid is black kanji: "Goninbayashi" (5 noise makers) and faint red seal.

1996.010.153