I-0277tt Doll Japanese Unknown date, likely 20th Century Materials: Cloth, hair, Ceramic Chikanobu Toyohara, Foxfires, 1898.The print depicts Yaegaki-hime carrying the helmet of the warrior Shingen as she dances amidst magical foxfires. Image via Wikimedia Commons. This Japanese doll is [...]

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I-0277n3 Doll Japanese 21st Century Materials: cloth, thread In Japan the word for doll is ningyō (人形), which translates to ‘human shaped’. Japanese dolls have been, and still are, immensely popular in the western world and while Western society sees [...]

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I-0291z Folding Fan Japanese Japan 20th Century Materials: Wood, Paper, Ink Various cultures around the world have used handheld fans throughout the centuries. However, in Asia they are also important artifacts that are found in nearly all aspects of culture, [...]

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I-0323s Obi Japanese Japan Date unknown, likely 20th century Materials: Cloth What is an ‘obi’? This item is an obi (oh-bee), a large sash used in traditional Japanese clothing for women. The obi functions as the tie used to keep [...]

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I-0323w Fan, Hand Japan Mid- 20th Century Materials: Bamboo, silk Japanese (samurai) Edo period fan with wood ribs and an iron outer cover “gunsen”. Image via Samuraiantiqueworld. This item is a Japanese fan, more specifically a Suyehiro. It is believed [...]

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I-0323s Obi Japan Mid- 20th Century Materials: Silk Photo via: National Museum of Denmark @ Flickr Commons, WikiMedia Commons This garment is called an obi and it first appeared in Japan during the Heian Period (794-1185). It was first designed [...]

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