Mingei Arts

This is a Japanese vintage Ichii Itto bori wood zodiac animal carving from the 1960s. This piece was crafted by and signed on the underside by Ryoho, who worked in the Hida Takayama area of Gifu Prefecture. Carving techniques inherited by craftsmen such as Ryoho date to the 5th and 6th centuries, with wood carving [...]

Just south of Sendai is one of several towns known as the birthplace of Kokeshi: the village of Togatta. Spread throughout the village are the descendants of the craftsmen who originated the Togatta-style Kokeshi. All Togatta have a red, radial design on top of the head, but what is interesting about this particular Togatta Ejiko [...]

In 1830 (Tempo era), there was a great famine in Japan, due to the failure of the rice crop which is Japan’s food staple. This little mouse, trying to eat from an empty dish was a humorous if not a sad caricature of lean times. The mouse/rat is the first animal listed in the Asian Zodiac, and considered a very auspicious symbol. Nezumi, [...]

The rooster symbol can be found in many cultures of Asia but it happens to be most venerated in Japan. For the Japanese people the rooster is a sacred animal. Therefore roosters are allowed to roam freely around Shinto Temples (i.e., Great Shrine of Ise) where it is believed according to the Japanese tradition that the rooster gives the morning [...]

This is a wonderful example of Ittobori style carved Shi Shi (lion dog) articulated head. Shi Shi are known to “repel evil spirits”. The jaw is attached by a wooden dowel, which allows the mouth to open and close. Tapping your finger rapidly on the chin makes a wood clapping sound to bring attention to its’ presence. Shishi means Lion, Gashira means head. This carved Japanese Shishigashira [...]

Shido Shozan was born in 1932 and raised in Oita prefecture where he started to create Kokeshi in 1957, and begun to distinguish himself as a Creative Kokeshi artist when he was 30 years old. Shortly after 1960, and for a series of years, his creative works were recognized with numerous awards like the prime minister [...]

Japanese traditional dolls are known by the name Ningyo, which literally means human shape. It is said that Kimekomi dolls were first made by Tadashige Takahashi, who served for Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto over 260 years ago. Kimekomi dolls, “Ki” means wood, “Mekomi” refers to the construction. These small wooden dolls were clothed with leftover fabrics of Shinto priest’s [...]

This is a Buddhist image of “Kannon Bosatsu” in the form of a Kokeshi doll, with a detachable base with a small hollow, allowing for the insertion of a small tightly rolled paper Sutra (charm), originally created by Kato Kuen, a well respected Priest of Kannonji Temple on Koya-san Mountain. This Kokeshi-styled Buddhist doll has [...]