Tenmei era (1781–1789) Donated by Saitō Shōji
Towards the end of the Edo period (1603–1868), the more basic forms of dolls created for simple play came to be replaced by ‘three-fold’ dolls with articulated joints, which allowed them to freely sit, stand or kneel. Compared to previous dolls, the intricately articulated joints were also designed to allow a child to undress and re-dress the doll.