bean cup girl (blue)
Artist's notes on style, materials and inspiration:
A small size wood girl living inside her wooden cup of beans, ready to scatter at demons trying to get into the house. The character 福 on the side of the cup is 'fuku' and means good fortune/ luck.
Japan has four very distinct seasons - known in the old seasonal almanac as Risshun, Rikka, Rishū, and Rittō (spring, summer, autumn and winter). All of these were marked in the old lunar calendar before the Gregorian calendar was adopted. The eves of all of these seasons were known as ‘setsubun’, meaning ‘seasonal division’ but in modern day Japan only the eve of spring or Risshun is properly marked, and therefore only this one is now associated with Setsubun (節分). It was once also New Year’s Eve, and was accompanied by various cleansing rites and efforts to encourage good fortune. Setsubun takes place on either 2nd (rarely), 3rd or 4th February.
As part of these rites, a custom began around the 15th century of scattering roasted soy beans to drive out evil spirits and purify the home for the coming year. Known as mamemaki, it first took place in homes and later a public bean scattering ceremony was first performed in Tokyo at Senso-ji temple during the Edo period (1603 - 1868) and now happens at various temples across Japan.
These 'good luck' beans (福豆/ fuku mame) are often held in a square wooden measuring cup known as a masu (the ones sometimes used these days to drink sake from) and as they are thrown you must shout “Demons out, fortune in!” (Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!/ 鬼は外! 福は内! ). There are regional variations to this chant, and at Senso-ji they shout "Long life and good fortune, come in!" because there are no demons in front of the enshrined deity.
Beans are also thrown out of windows, sometimes at a member of the family wearing a demon mask, and the doors slammed. When the bean throwing is performed at temples nowadays the beans are in little packets. Once the bean throwing is over, it is customary for people to eat the same number of beans as their age, to ensure good health for the year.
Turned from American Tulipwood, a sustainable and interestingly grained timber, my wood girls are turned on a lathe by a production wood turner in the UK to my designs, then painted by me, a British artist. This girl has been fixed inside the wooden cup with wooden 'beans' all around her. The wooden 'beans' are fixed into place with hot glue and so a very small amount may be visible in places. Finished in a matt acrylic protective top coat.
Approximately 11cm in height.
My pieces are painted in a naïve and simple style, with visible brush strokes and differing paint consistencies. It is important to note that these dolls are made from real wood which will have naturally occurring markings and grain, and sometimes there will be small amount of bleeding along the grain, or knots, which is to be expected when using untreated wood - please make sure you consult the pictures carefully before purchasing.
PLEASE NOTE: Wood girls should be kept away from water which can damage the wood and painted surface, and also away from direct heat/ sunlight which also can affect the surface colour and the timber itself.
