Protective Grandmother Doll (Ningyo). Arita porcelain. Edo Japan, 17th cent

Porcelain figurine representing an elderly woman wearing a kimono decorated with auspicious symbols (stylized Buddhist treasures, scrolls, incense bags). She holds a suspended fan (uchiwa), painted with a finely glazed floral design. The face is full and smiling, with slanted eyes, a small black bun, and a gentle and kind expression. The features are naive, almost childlike. The base is unglazed.
This type of figurine is among the first Japanese porcelain figurines in human form produced in the Arita kilns. Unlike the Bijin (pretty women) made at this time for export to Europe, our figurine exceptionally represents an elderly woman. This is a representation of a caring grandmother. Grandmother dolls made of wood or boiled cardboard covered with textiles were given as gifts to little Japanese girls to ward off demons and illnesses, and ward off evil. The dolls were placed in the child's room to protect their sleep. The Grandmother doll presented here is exceptionally made of porcelain, which is very rare and perhaps unique. It was a special order from a prominent Japanese family. This type of doll was never exported to Europe, as the subject and its function were not culturally understood there.
It was probably given on Hina Matsuri (Girls' Day) or for a birth.
Early Edo period, circa 1680–1720. Perfectly preserved. H: 295mm

Its substantial size, highly refined decoration, protective function, and uniqueness make it an exceptional collector's item of great historical and museographic interest.