h. 10.5 x w. 5.063 x d. 5.063 in.
(h. 26.67 x w. 12.859 x d. 12.859 cm)
Credit Line
U.S. Senate Collection
Accession Number
85.00016.000b
Object Description
This doll is one of a pair accepted by a senator on behalf of the United States in 2013 as a gift from a government official of Japan. Doll making is a traditional craft in Japan, and dolls have long been used for display and in festivals and religious ceremonies. They also have a long history as diplomatic gifts; Japan first presented dolls to the United States as part of treaty negotiations in 1854. Bijin-ningyō is a category of traditional Japanese dolls made for display that depict beautiful figures, often wearing elaborate textiles and holding accessories such as parasols, fans, or flowering branches. This doll, wearing a blue silk kimono, sits atop a ceramic garden stool and holds a fan in its right hand. As with all foreign gifts, its acceptance and use are governed by the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act (5 U.S.C. § 7342).
