Thoughts on the Japanese Doll Festival March 3, 2020-our Display Dedicated to Yoko Ono

Today is the day of the Hina Matsuri or Japanese Doll Festival. For great histories of this wonderful holiday, read Miss Happiness and Miss Flower by Rumer Godden, friend of Tasha Tudor, who was so kind to me when I wrote my dissertation. Also, try Judy Shoaf's A Page for Japanese Dolls online, and Laura B. Starr's, The Doll Book, 1908, available on Kindle. My friend Mary Hillier has excellent information in her Dolls and Doll Makers, and Alan Pate and Lea Baten are also excellent sources and noted authors on Japanese dolls of all types. I have a foldout Hina set that dates to the Korean War, and other Korean and Japanese dolls my Uncle Tom, an artist, brought from Korea. Yesterday was the anniversary of his death, and I feel the need to honor him. He was a big contributor to my doll collection, and taught me to paint in oils. He repaired all sorts of dolls, and brought me one every weekend. He was a graduate of the School of the Art Institute, and very talented.

As I was pondering the state of my dolls, sort of like The State of the Union, when it occurred to me, I really have three collections: the standard "correct" collection of typically desirable dolls from all epochs that appear in books, all in good or mint shape with boxes, my core collection from childhood, many in mint or excellent shape, others well-loved, who were my companions, and my artist/restored wonders. These last may be my favorites, and include my early and sad attempts at doll making, fabulous fragments of antique dolls, yard sale dolls, the bits and pieces that become art dolls, homemade paper dolls and doll houses, furniture, and clothes. I've learned from all three segments of the collection, and I don't think I could have specialized in the way some collectors do, but then, to each her own!

Japanese Dolls Display at American Doll & Toy Museum

Traditional Hina dolls, American Doll & Toy Museum

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Dedicated to Yoko Ono