Japanese Vintage Hariko no Tora Traditional Papier-mâché Bobble Head Tiger
Beautiful vintage Japanese Hariko no Tora. Has a lovely face and would make a incredible statement piece. Head to Tail 73cm. Behind to Head 46cm. Body Hight 25cm W15cm. Chips to the base of tail, two cracks on left of face and signs of wear all over but for its age in good condition. Whiskers have disappeared along the way too. Please check out my other listings for more Japanese vintage, retro and antique bits. Originally the Hariko no Tora papier-mâché tiger came from overseas through trade with China as a traditional craft, but it is now designated as a traditional craft in Kagawa Prefecture. In China the tiger is regarded as a messenger of God. It was believed that in order to have a healthy body, one needed to use tiger bones for medicinal purposes as well as amulets. It was said that the in the Edo period medicine that treated and worked to fight off cholera was a pill containing the bones of the tiger’s head named “Tiger Head Killer Orpiment”. After a cholera outbreak in Osaka during the Edo period, amulets of “Tiger-heads” and Papier-mâché tigers were freely distributed around the city. This possibly led to the custom of displaying Hariko no Tora at the Boy? S Festival in Kansai – which is now known as childrens day. As a sacred deity or amulet familys would display these Hariko no tora in their houses as a guardian against illness and the hope of the healthy upbringing of their children. The saying Paper tiger is also thought to have originated from Hariko no tora dolls. # Traditional craft sumi ink painting tea ceremony geisha samurai anime Kawaii vintage Retro antique kimono yukata oni tenngu Hannya devil Japan Kyoto Tokyo Tattoo Yakuza ukiyo-e Heian Tokugawa Meiji Showa legend aizome Shinto Buddhism Buddhist Temple Monk. The item “Japanese Vintage Hariko no Tora Traditional Papier-mâché Bobble Head Tiger” is in sale since Thursday, December 3, 2020. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian/Oriental Antiques\Japanese\Other Japanese”. The seller is “ensoretro” and is located in Kyoto . This item can be shipped to all countries in Europe, United States, Japan, Canada.
- Region of Origin: Japanese
- Country of Origin: Japan
- Product: Figurine
- Age: Post-1940
- Primary Material: Paper Mache & Plaster
- Original/Repro: Vintage Original