Owari tsuba with four monkey dolls

Muromachi period, (1336- 1573)

NBTHK Hozon Tōsogu

Marugata: 7.1 x 7 cm

Thickness: 6 mm

Maru mimi

Four stylized monkey dolls

Monkey dolls (saru-ningyo) are made of cloth, stuffed with cotton and in ancient times were sometimes sewn into the clothing of children, as monkeys were thought to ward off diseases. In modern times, they function more as general good-luck charms.