Rare & Beautiful
Our collection is carefully curated with vintage items that were crafted by hand. Shop our selection of Kokeshi, toys and other wonderful items ranging from 100 years old.
Robert & Michael's Picks
Shop our favorite items for sale
“Folk art stirs memories of place, affirms individual taste and identity, and a trace of life’s everlasting impressions”
The hidden beauty of everyday objects
ようこそ
Mingei Arts represents a diverse collection of Japanese folk arts— antique and vintage objects of beauty, vitality and charm, illuminating the history and daily life of ordinary Japanese people and artisans of the 18th to the 21st centuries.
We welcome domestic and international vintage and modern Kokeshi fans, and we thank you for visiting our site.
“Folk art stirs memories of place, affirms individual taste and identity, and a trace of life’s everlasting impressions”
The hidden beauty of everyday objects
ようこそ
Mingei Arts represents a diverse collection of Japanese folk arts— antique and vintage objects of beauty, vitality and charm, illuminating the history and daily life of ordinary Japanese people and artisans of the 18th to the 21st centuries.
We welcome domestic and international vintage and modern Kokeshi fans, and we thank you for visiting our site.
One of the most beautiful pieces I have purchased in over 10 years
Delightful and well-written book. Exceptional large color image with great descriptions and details.
As always, a carefully packed order arrived this morning...a great doll and another copy of your new book will be a great Christmas present for my friend.
Wonderful exposition. The artwork on each doll is like a unique painting historically recording the Japanese culture.
Rare Items
Explore folklore and its influence on Mingei and the cultural heritage of the Traditional Arts of Japan.
Journey Through Japan
Introduction — “The following essay is meant to help non-Japanese people gain a better understanding of the purpose of the belief system associated with the practice of ceremonious burning in Japan...
If you are interested in Japanese culture and its relationship to Kimono patterns and Kokeshi motif, discover that the prominent motif is predominantly flower, plant and tree inspired since the lat...
Zodiac Animals in Japanese Folklore: Kokeshi and Wood Carvings
Chinese Buddhist monks introduced the Zodiac to Japan in the 600s. Ancient astronomers divided the course Jupiter takes through the sky into twelve sections, assigning one of the characters of the ...
Japanese Traditional Kokeshi Families
FAQ
Here are a few questions you may be wondering about.
Do you ship overseas?
We currently offer shipping to most countries outside of the EU. Because of recent changes to taxes and duty fees in the EU, we can only offer e-book (digital) sales to customers living in the EU.
How long will it take to get my orders?
It depends on where you are. Orders processed here will take 5-7 business days to arrive. Overseas deliveries can take anywhere from 7-16 days. Delivery details will be provided in your confirmation email.
Depending on the availability of Customs in each country, it has been taking up to 30 days for delivery. We provide tracking numbers for each purchase for our customers to follow their delivery. We typically ship each week on Mondays and Fridays unless a special request is made.
I see an item marked as "SOLD". Can I buy it?
Items in our store are one-of-a-kind. When they are marked as sold, that means they are gone, but we often keep the listings in our store for historical and educational purposes.
We accept HOLDS for only to our returning customers, other Dealers, and and those purchasing quantity items. We only place items on HOLD for 24-36 hours.
Do you entertain bids or offers on your products?
While we feel our pricing is fair and competitive, we are always willing to entertain an offer on a product. Please email us with a link to the product you are interested in and make a reasonable offer for consideration and response.
Do your items ever go on sale?
We research products based on originality, similarity, and price. We also review the marketplace to see if we can fulfill customer interests as folk art becomes available depending on the season and Japanese lifestyle. So we adjust our prices regularly based on Fair Market Values. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of our next sale and when free shipping is available.
Why do we provide the Provenance | Detailed Product Information ?
When you purchase an item we suggest you download/copy the information about the object you purchased to provide a thread of historical significance of the artwork based on its cultural development and history. A good provenance like we provide will increase the value of the piece and establishing it may help confirm the date, artist information. Unfortunately provenances are often ignored in the excitement to purchase. The only pieces that will be archived for educational purposes are the Kokeshi and Toys, and are archived under either the Browse by family or Browse by Artist.