Kyōhō Dolls

Genroku era (1688–1704) Donated by Saitō Shōji

Kyōhō dolls, also known as Edo dolls as they were made in Edo (known as Tokyo today), emerged as a response to demand for newer, more elegant hina dolls. Many such dolls were made during the Genroku and Kyōhō eras (1716–1736). They are distinctive for their large size and exceptionally gorgeous costumes of silk and brocade; some dolls could be as large as 60 to 70cm tall.

Here, the eyes and mouth have been crafted as three-dimensional features rather than being painted on, and their hair has been created separately and attached to their heads.