From the Archive: Favourite Things #58 Tanabata Wishes

Artist's notes on style, materials and inspiration:

This favourite thing girl represents a summer time mini festival that everyone can enjoy: Tanabata Matsuri. Originally from China, Tanabata is the Japanese take on 'wishing on a star' or in this case stars.

Tanabata matsuri (七夕まつり), also known as the star festival, takes place on the 7th day of the 7th month (tanabata means 'evening of the 7th). Depending on where in Japan you are, the festival can take place anywhere from the beginning of July to the end of August, because it depends on what calendar is used for the date.

It begins with a folk tale that is inspired by the coming together of certain stars in the Northern Hemisphere summer sky. As the Japanese version of the tale goes, there was once a princess named Orihime (織姫) who wove the most beautiful cloth for her father the sky king Tentei (天帝) on the banks of the Milky Way, known as the Amanogawa (天の川, meaning “heavenly river”). Her father noticed how lonely she was spending all of her time weaving and so he arranged for her to meet a cow herder in the sky, called Hikoboshi - they were well suited and married quickly. But the two lovers were so engrossed, they began to neglect their work; the herder’s cows strayed all over the heavens, and the princess forgot her weaving. This made Tentei very angry, and he forced his daughter onto one side of the Amanogawa and Hikoboshi onto the other, where they could no longer see each other. Deeply hurt by the loss of her husband, Orihime begged her father to let her see him again. Moved by her tears, Tentei agreed that the two could meet each other once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, allowing them to focus on their work for the rest of the time. Orihime is represented by the star Vega and Hikoboshi by the star Altair, whose paths cross once a year.

These two stars are part of the 'summer triangle' that appears at this time of year (along with the star Deneb). If the sky is clear on the night of Tanabata then we know that the lovers were able to meet; if it rains then it is said that they are the tears of the lovers.

A variety of paper decorations are displayed on this day, including paper strips called tanzaku (短冊). You write a wish for the future on them and thank the earth for all of your good fortune, and then hang them from branches of bamboo or sometimes other plants. This wood girl has her own bamboo stem to carry with her, complete with six coloured wooden strips hung on linen thread to represent the tanzaku. Included with the girl are six further wooden strips (unpainted) so that her owner can customise some if they so wish.

My 'favourite things' wood girl series share the places and things I love, a favourite motif, object or theme, or are inspired by a microseason. Turned from American Tulipwood, a sustainable and interestingly grained timber, the pieces are turned by a production wood turner in the UK to my designs, then added to and painted by me, a British artist. They are finished in a matt acrylic protective top coat.

This wood girl is approximately 35cm in height. Favourite Things girls are numbered on the base, this one is #58. She makes a nice sound when moved as the wooden tanzaku touch each other.

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.