Japanese Zodiac signs by year of birth :
. Mouse : 1900 1960 1912 1972 1924 1984 1936 1996 1948 2008 2020
. Cow : 1901 1961 1913 1973 1925 1985 1937 1997 1949 2009 2021
. Tiger: 1902 1962 1914 1974 1926 1986 1938 1998 1950 2010
. Rabbit : 1903 1963 1915 1975 1927 1987 1939 1999 1951 2011
. Dragon : 1904 1964 1916 1976 1928 1988 1940 2000 1952 2012
. Snake : 1905 1965 1917 1977 1929 1989 1941 2001 1953 2013
. Horse : 1906 1966 1918 1978 1930 1990 1942 2002 1954 2014
. Sheep : 1907 1967 1919 1979 1931 1991 1943 2003 1955 2015
. Monkey : 1908 1968 1920 1980 1932 1992 1944 2004 1956 2016
. Rooster : 1909 1969 1921 1981 1933 1993 1945 2005 1957 2017
. Dog : 1910 1970 1922 1982 1934 1994 1946 2006 1958 2018
. Boar : 1911 1971 1923 1983 1935 1995 1947 2007 1959 2019
Kokeshi dolls are part of Japanese folk art.
These traditional Japanese wooden dolls and figurines, created during the Edo period (1600 - 1868) and originating from the Tohoku region, were originally made for children.
According to popular beliefs, they were also believed to transmit messages that they hid in their trunk. People who visited Onsen (hot springs) in Tohoku used to buy them as souvenirs.
These little dolls were also a source of income for the local people during the winter months when farming was not very convenient.
The most popular kokeshis are made from pagoda dogwood, which is known for its hardness and strength.
Versions are also available in cherry wood.
Their traditional composition is simple: a small round head on a simple trunk.
The surface, perfectly smoothed, is delicately painted with a brush.
Lines fineness is surprising.
The finishing by application of a layer of polished and glossy wax gives it all its characteristic brilliance.
In the seventeenth century, they represented mainly children and had longitudinal forms.
Contemporary versions are less slender, rounder and come in animal versions, elderly people, or in a more fanciful way, signs of the zodiac, characters or popular creatures.
The reason is simple, they are coveted by collectors as much for their aesthetics as for the virtues that are attributed to them: happiness, health...
A must of Japanese folk art!
Delivered in a nice cardboard box ready to offer.
