Check out the photos here in the blog. They are called kokeshi, and are painted dolls made simply from wood. Key to their simplicity, is the cylindrical shape - which might make it look crude - but it also lacks arms and legs, making it seem even more primitive. And that's the allure for me and millions of others.
Most dolls you see today are so realistic, you wonder why kids don't simply have a real person as a friend, because aside from taking a poop, today's dolls do everything a real person does. Oh wait... they can POOP.
Anyhow, these dolls are indeed made of wood, and are turned on a lathe - often from one -piece of wood (like both of mine are), and are then painted - either simply like my one-night stand, I mean like the doll in the simple way it is shaped - and the two I have are very different in their simplicity.
The small one with the simple red kimono is about 12 centimetres tall and is at least shaped like a person, while the other kokeshi with the elaborate kimono paint job, is about 30 centimetres tall and has the simple ovoid shape. Simple, yet elegant.
Apparently, there are several types of kokeshi - 11 types, in fact, depending on the techniques used to make them, with the shape, facial expression and painted patterns as distinctive ways of describing the types.
"Traditional" kokeshi (伝統こけし dentō-kokeshi) dolls' shapes and patterns are particular to a certain area and are classified under eleven types including: Tsuchiyu, Togatta, Yajiro, Naruko, Sakunami, Yamagata, Kijiyama, Nanbu, Tsugaru, Zao-takayu, and Hijioro. The most dominant type is the Naruko variety originally made in Miyagi Prefecture, which can also be found in Akita, Iwate, and Yamagata prefectures. The main street of the Naruko Hot Spring resort is known as Kokeshi Street and has shops which are operated directly by the kokeshi carvers.
"Creative" kokeshi (新型こけし shingata-kokeshi) allow the artist complete freedom in terms of shape, design and color and were developed after World War II (1945). They are not particular to a specific region of Japan and generally creative Kokeshi artists are found in the cities.
The woods used for kokeshi vary, with cherry used for its darkness and dogwood for its softer qualities. Itaya-kaede, a Japanese maple, is also used in the creation of both traditional and creative dolls. The wood is left outdoors to season for one to five years before it can be used.
Now I'll be honest... I know the small kokeshi is what it is, but I am unsure if the larger one is actually a kokeshi. It seems to fit the criteria, but then again it doesn't. Regardless, I'm very proud of them both. I'm proud because I have items that are for girls and women, and for the fact that I don't care.
If anyone can give me more info about the large wooden doll I have, it would be appreciated.
Somewhere playing with my dollies,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog is brought to us by some living Pussycat Dolls. It's not rock and roll, but, as marketing suggests, they are easy on the eyes: WHENIGROWUP, I want to get a few more dolls.
