SHP365 - Shikishi artwork of Heian dorei 平安土鈴
SHP365 - Shikishi artwork of Heian dorei 平安土鈴
A 1962 Japanese shikishi (色紙) artwork depicting a pair of Heian-style dorei clay bells (平安土鈴), painted in soft washes of red, violet, green and grey.
The two rounded figures are inspired by the elegant court culture of Japan’s Heian period (794–1185). Their simplified forms resemble traditional folk toys, with delicately painted faces and formal court dress. The female figure holds a folding fan, while the companion figure is shown in a rounded courtly costume with a distinctive head ornament. Together they evoke the familiar pairing of aristocratic figures often associated with Hina Matsuri imagery and the imperial court.
Heian dorei (平安土鈴) take their inspiration from the refined visual culture of the Heian court—characterised by layered robes, aristocratic headwear and the graceful imagery later associated with classical literature and the Hina doll tradition.
Such bells were not only decorative souvenirs but also part of Japan's rich tradition of kyōdo gangu (郷土玩具 / regional folk toys), in which local history and cultural symbolism were translated into simple, expressive forms.
The reverse of this shikishi retains a handwritten inscription, including a Shōwa-era date notation, further contributing to the vintage character and provenance of the piece.
Size: 24 x 27cm
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