Japanese Rice Farmer Ningyo Dolls

Sculpture

Seattle Convention Center

Name/Title

Japanese Rice Farmer Ningyo Dolls

Entry/Object ID

1993.2.1

Description

Highly realistic handmade traditional Japanese farmer doll pair. One doll crouches down using a scythe to cut rice plant stalks, wearing indigo blue garments held by a red belt, and a white and blue patterned head scarf. The second doll uses a basket for winnowing (fujimi), to gather hay to feed cattle, and wears a farmer's jacket (noragi) and boro indigo blue pants which have been patched.

Type of Sculpture

Assemblage

Artwork Details

Medium

cotton, natural fiber, fur

Subject Place

State/Province

Hyogo Prefecture

Made/Created

Artist

Ume Watanabe

Date made

1991

Web Links and URLs

https://www.hyogobcc.org/

Interpretative Labels

Label

Japanese dolls, called ningyo, are a traditional craft, that are given as gifts, and in this case used in diplomatic exchange. This grouping of handmade dolls depicts, with great realism, traditional farming activities of the Hyogo prefecture. One doll is in the act of cutting hay and the other gathers hay to feed cattle.