Vintage Japanese Daruma Koma Folk Toy by Tsuta Mamoru

Dimensions: 7-1/4”h x 3-1/4” dia.

Toys and Tops of many shapes and materials have been found throughout Japan and are among the most ancient toys known. 

This is a creative Uranai Oyako Daruma for Divination, (a practice of seeking knowledge of the future or fortune telling by supernatural means). In Japan, this particular top referred to as koma asobi gets its name from the Buddhist Holy man whose character decorates this simple game. A spinning top is a toy that can be spun on an axis, balancing on a point. The well-balanced carving produces an overall circular motion in which the spinning top is weight to balance producing an overall circular motion. The spinning top is made to rotate in the hollow of the wooden sleeve and to keep it from falling off its base by a hand-fashioned tip that is part of the axle stem for spinning. This particular version has a game wheel on the top of the head of Daruma. Role-playing gamers is to augment the top in generating randomized results related to one's future and have historically been used for gambling and prophecy. The image of Daruma is beautifully painted in colors red and black, (red being the color for good luck and fortune), and on both the base and the sleeve which supports the spinning top. Additionally, the face of Daruma is actually drawn with features that call to mind the shape of mystical Japanese animals: the crane and the turtle. The symbols on Daruma read fuku-iri (bringing luck). The piece is from Narago, Miyagi Province, and is unsigned. 

Condition: Excellent condition means that the piece has no cracks or repairs with fine and original details consistent with the age and standards of collectible Vintage Japanese Toys. For those who want to start or expand their collection, Japanese toys and tops continue to be sought-after collectible highly valued artifacts.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Toys and Tops of many shapes and materials have been found throughout Japan and are among the most ancient toys known. In Japan, top playing was a boys’ game bound to specific events and seasons for which spinning tops were serious games, (fighting tops) and general spinning tops being an everyday toy is symbolic of housebound children in winter and on holidays. Besides games, toys have historically been used for gambling and prophecy.