Exotic Kocho-no-mai isho-ningyo Enacting Butterfly Dance) for the Hina Matsuri, Meiji Era

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13" (33 cm.) Depiction of the early Gagaku court dancers with heads, hands, and feet of wood covered in gofun, painted facial details, in animated poses with left leg thrust to the side and toe up, dressed in exactly matching textiles consisting of a silk brocade ho (outer robe) with long train bearing tortoise shell and peony designs in various colors on a maroon ground, belted at waist, with silk brocade hakama trousers bearing the hanabishi (diamond flower) and stylized botan (peony) design, colorful lacquer paper keiko (cuirass), metal crowns with silk flower ornaments, real hair, holding flowering branches in their hands, and with dramatic lacquered paper butterfly wings at the back with banded colors. Light craquelure, slight hair loss. Meiji Era, Late 19th century. Exhibited Japan Society (1996) and published in Ningyo:The Art of the Human Figure, page 47. By tradition, this auspicious and ancient court dance would have been performed by boys; however, over time, the imagery associated with the kocho-no-mai became increasingly feminine and its inclusion in the Hina Matsuri is therefore fitting.