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Vintage Japanese | Kyōto Fushimi Clay Doll of a Decorated Horse (Kazari-uma)

This vintage Japanese kazari-uma (decorated horse) clay doll takes a white horse as its main form, dressed in a vivid vermilion caparison with blue edging, with a black mane and saddle fittings with a gilt effect; the colors are highly characteristic of traditional Japanese folk toys. Compared with horse sculptures that aim at realistic proportions, the charm of Fushimi dolls leans toward being “rustic, auspicious and endearing.” The horse's proportions are slightly exaggerated, its outline simple and solid, and its face has a somewhat childlike expression, which gives the piece more of the warmth of handmade folk art. The most eye-catching part is the saddle and tack on its back. The large areas of gold decoration show natural wear from the years, and together with the traditional vermilion, blue and black, the piece has a festive feel while retaining the historical character a vintage piece should have.

Price NT$ 1,200 ≈ US$ 38(Approximate amount; actual prices are in New Taiwan Dollars)

Dimensions: L 18.5 × W 7.9 × H 16.5 cm
Category: Decorative Objects

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Features

◆ Of the Kyōto Fushimi ningyō tradition

Fushimi ningyō is one of the long-established clay-doll traditions of Kyōto, known for mould-formed, hand-painted figures and animals.

Common subjects include good-fortune figures, deities and buddhas, animals, festivals and scenes of daily life, so the tradition is strongly rooted in popular culture.

According to the markings in the photographs this piece is a "Kyōto Fushimi ningyō, kazari-uma (ornamental horse)", and both subject and form fit this folk-art idiom closely.

◆ The auspicious subject of the kazari-uma

The horse carries strongly positive associations in traditional Japanese culture.

It is often associated with:

Vitality

Drive

Moving forward

Success

Martial fortune

Advancement in life

Good omens

Since the kazari-uma also carries festive and congratulatory associations, it suits an opening, a promotion, a new home, or a Year-of-the-Horse collection.

◆ A white horse

In East Asian culture and in Japanese shrine belief the white horse often suggests purity, sanctity and good fortune.

This piece is mainly white, picked out with red, blue, black and gold, which makes it decidedly eye-catching.

◆ A vermilion horse cloth

The legs and belly are decorated in vermilion, which is visually very striking.

Vermilion is common in traditional Japanese objects and festival culture and carries associations of celebration, warding off evil and blessing.

◆ Gilded saddlery

The saddle on the back carries a great deal of gold decoration and is the most ornate part of the piece.

The gilding is now naturally worn, but this in fact gives the piece more of the character of an old object, without the over-new look of a modern reproduction.

Specifications

Dimensions	L 18.5 × W 7.9 × H 16.5 cm