Exceptionally Rare 17th Century Ito-bina Pair, 17th Century Edo Period

Live Auction

17" (43 cm.) The Ito-bina pair have bodies fashioned of stiffened paper and elongated paper-wrapped necks topped by strands of silk representing hair. The bodies, with painted images of Jo and Uba raking and sweeping the pine needles along the shores of Suma Bay, depict the Takasago legend and symbolize longevity and marital bliss. Minor wear to paper and losses to pigment. Edo Period, late 17th century. Ito-bina are one of the earliest forms of hina in the evolution of the Girl's Day festival in the Edo Period. They are a form of kami-bina (paper hina) which ultimately evolved into the more sophisticated tachi-bina (standing hina) [see catalogue #40].