Three Sets of Hand Puppets A - F: Six puppets have painted clay heads and hands, bodies are made of cloth which is wired to the heads and hands. A: Puppet has smiling face with round puffy cheeks, laughing eyes, bulging forehead, painted black hair and eyes, painted red mouth. The hands are flat with shaped fingers. The body is a rectangle with pink striped cotton cloth with an opening at the bottom to insert one's hand. Puppet represents the character Okame - the goddess of mirth see p.129, Mingei Japanese Folk Art, The Brooklyn Museum. B: Puppet has painted black eyebtrows, eyes and painted red mouth. A bluish bump on the jaw indicating tooth ache. Painted white scarf around head and jaw. It has painted red and blue water designs and cherry blossoms and black painted hair. Flat hands have indentations for fingers. the body is made of purple cotton crepe with an opening at the bottom. Character may be Gombei, a term used for a common man (i.e. any old Charlie) C: Puppet has a painted black samurai hair - do black eyebrows, quizical eyes, and a red pursed mouth. Flat hands with indentations for fingers. Body is made of purple cotton crepe open at the bottom. Figure of a merchant. These three appear to make up one set. D: Puppet has painted pink face, which is shaped so the mouth is pulled to one side forming a bump with a red dot for mouth, he has a bump on left side of forehead, black painted eyebrows and eyes, left eye is closed. Has a white painted scarf tied around head and under chin, scarf has red and blue painted designs. Painted black hair shows at the back. Flat clay hands with indentations for fingers. The body is made of yellow cotton, blue line on selvage at bottom, and bottom is open. Red smudge on front. Character is Hyottoko. E: Puppet has a painted black samurai hair - do black eyebrows, quizical eyes, and a red pursed mouth. Flat hands with indentations for fingers. Body is made of yellow cotton with a blue line of sevage at the bottom, open at the bottom. Figure of a merchant. F: Puppet has laughing face, painted black hair piled on head and tied with painted red and green scarf. She has black eyebrows and eyes, red lips and white teeth. Flat hands with indentations for fingers. Body is made of red cotton, open at the bottom. Character is probably Komori. D - F appear to be one set of puppets. G: Clown puppet has painted paper mache hands and head. The face is pink with brown eyebrows, black eyes, red mouth and cheeks, there is a bump on the head which is painted blue as is it were a hat. The ears protruding from the side of the head have blue dots on the front. The body is made from a light blue synthetic material with grey stripes and set in sleeves which have brown stains where the hands protrude.

1996.010.305