Large Samurai dolls, Old Japanese Takeda Theater Dolls

There was a glorious golden era of Japanese theater from the mid to late Edo period (1603-1868) led by a group of puppet ningyo (dolls) plays called Joruri (Bunraku today). The play writer (the first professional one in Japanese history) was Chikamatsu Monzaemon; the stage narrator was Gidaifu and the stage director and business manager/owner was the Takeda family. The sophisticated stage effects and mechanical dolls, Karakuri ningyo were born and developed during this time. The competitions between theaters, later collaboration with Kabuki play and the economical power of merchants, all pushed the level of theater play. They were the most popular entertainment form for the commoners (who were the majority) during the Edo period. The popularity of the doll play quickly declined from its highest point when the last key figure, Takeda Izumo, died. The Kabuki theater, which was played only by men (see NOTE below), took over the place and set their own golden age.

It is said that the Takeda dolls were modeled after the stage actors and puppet dolls from this period. The name Takeda was given after Takeda Izumo (II or III?) who was not only a theater manager but a popular writer when the Joruri ningyo (dolls) theater was its highest peak (after the deaths of Chikamatsu and Gidaifu) and the generations of his family who devoted their life to the theater before and after him.

The dolls that we are offering here are a very impressive set of Takeda dolls dressed in costumes with rich brocades and embroideries. The collars of most of the Takeda dolls are made out of velvet which was first introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Japanese finally figured out to weave their own with this treasure cloth when someone discovered a small copper wire left in the velvet that the Portuguese brought. The velvet is nearly gone or damaged from the age with only the wire showing. These dolls were probably made 150 to 200 years ago when the common people were still prohibited from wearing silk.

The Takeda dolls are known for their exaggerated posture and facial expressions since they were actors on stage. Many are dressed and posed for certain rolls for the particular play. These two Samurai dolls are posed as if they are in the middle of a battle. If they had a roof over the theater, it would have been a great show piece there. This wire goes around the neck from the front of the jacket and is used to lift up the edges of the cloth to give the dolls the look of action. The bottom of the jackets are extremely wide probably for the same reason.

Left doll: 22 inches tall from the bottom of the stand to the tip of the hat. (Stand is 15 inches x 11 3/4 x 3)

Right doll: 21 1/2 inches tall. (Stand is 13 3/4 x 10 x 3)

NOTE: The Female Impersonators in Kabuki Play: There were no female actresses allowed in the Edo period after recounting the problem in the beginning. The Kabuki play originally started with a group of women in the beginning of Edo period but they quickly turned into off stage prostitutes. After the females were prohibited by law, the young males took the part of the females in the play but they too took the same course. The Tokugawa government placed the age limit at this time. This is the reason that you find the strange looking women painted in Ukiyo-e. All female impersonators were played by older men.