A Wonderfully Designed Antique Temari: Gift for Children

late nineteenth century
2 1/8", 5.5 cm diameter

Temari, literally “hand ball,” are gifts made for children. Temari were originally made from left over yarn or string, both cotton and silk floss were used for the external decoration.

A ball was created from wound threads.  Sometimes a written wish for the child was placed at the center of the ball, or other times some rice grains or a bell were the center of the ball, placed there to create a rattling or jingling noise to amuse the child.

This is a good sized and elaborately wound and decorated old temari--and old temari are very difficult to find these days.  

This one is made from a core of wound cotton yarn and shows a muted and colored design that is mirrored on all sides. The design shows stylized chrysanthemums fitted into elongated diamond shapes and hexagons which call to mind tortoiseshell and which carries with it a wish for a long life. Note how the core of the ball can be seen through the central aperture of the hexagon.

It appears that the dyes used on this temari are botanically derived and there is surface wear to the piece, of course.

There a tassel on the ball, a very nice detail. 

This is a marvelous old temari, something hard to find--and very collectible.

Very recommended.