These are Kokeshi dolls. Kokeshi dolls have been made in Japan for over 300 years. The name may have come from the Japanese words for 'wooden',(ki),small,(ko), and doll, (keshi). They were originally made as guardians for children. They later became popular tourists items. Today they are still considered good luck and are kept in Japanese homes as protection. The traditional dolls are very simple,solid wooden dolls,without arms or legs,painted black,red, and yellow,and coated with wax. The face is simply painted, with little detail.
These dolls aren't just kokeshi dolls though. They are also nesting dolls.
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| This is one of Ivy's favourites in her collection. I was trying to hide it from her when I brought it home, but she saw it. She got excited because she knew it was a nesting doll. I told her it wasn't a nesting doll. Instead I told her it was a toothpick holder! She believed it,so she was surprised when I gave it to her and told her it was indeed a nesting doll. |
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| These only have three dolls,and only the first two have bobble heads. |
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| It was hard to get them all to face forward at the same time because of the bobbly heads. |
All of the nests in Ivy's favourite set have bobble heads except the very last one.
Kokeshi dolls with the wobbly heads are called Nanbu kokeshi.
These aren't traditional Kokeshi dolls. These would be called 'creative kokeshi' dolls,which would have been made after WWII.
For those of you who were interested in the mini pocket knife Ivy got for me,she says she thinks it came from AliExpress,or possibly Wish.
Tomorrow we'll look at another doll.
