Textiles

  • Emperor
  • Empress

Emperor and Empress Dolls

  • Japan Meiji period, 18th century
  • (Empress) h: 36.2cm (Emperor) h: 38.0cm
  • Gift of Takeda Tsunemasa
  • [70294/70295]

This imperial pair is said to have been created for Princess Masako upon her birth in 1888(Meiji 21), and are of the so-called yūsoku bina style of dolls created for aristocratic families of the day. Their hairstyles and costumes are a faithful recreation of the formal wear of Japanese aristocratic families.