French Doll - French Doll

A doll with a French look. In the early 14th century, in Paris, France, costume shops dressed dolls in the latest fashions and sent them abroad as fashion samples. This is said to be the ancestor of fashion dolls and the beginning of French dolls. In Japan, when dolls were imported from abroad during the Meiji period, they were made to imitate European-style dolls. At the end of the Taisho period, these were called French dolls. It can be said to be a general term for Western dolls with bodies made from cotton, packing and wire, cloth masks, Western hairstyles and beautiful costumes. From the early Showa period, this was adapted, and Sakura dolls, which were Japanized based on Japanese theatrical customs, were made, and they also became a handicraft for women.

[Ryosuke Saito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

フランス風の姿をした人形。14世紀初期、フランスのパリで、衣装店が人形に最新流行の衣装を着せてそれをファッションの見本として外国に送った。これがファッション・ドールの先祖で、フランス人形の始まりといわれる。日本では、明治時代に外国から人形が渡来すると、ヨーロッパ風の人形をまねてつくった。大正末期にはこれをフランス人形とよんだ。綿やパッキングと針金で体をつくり、布製のマスクに洋髪、美しい衣装で仕上げた西洋人形の総称ともいえる。昭和初期からこれを応用、日本の演劇風俗に取題して日本化したさくら人形がつくられ、婦人の手芸にもなった。

［斎藤良輔］

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