East Asia, Japan, Meiji, late 19th to early 20th century. An antique Japanese Hina Ningyo (doll) used for the Hina Matsuri Festival (also known as the Girls Festival), depicting an emperor dressed in a traditional costumes. Displaying emperor and empress dolls during festivals began during the early Edo period (1603 - 1868). Other types of dolls (ladies-in-waiting, musicians, guards and servants) were added later. Aristocrats, samurai, and daimyo classes also traditionally selected a set of hina dolls when it was time for marriage to be incorporated in to the bridal trousseau during the Edo period. Size: 12.375" W x 12" H (31.4 cm x 30.5 cm) Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #161883