The signs of the Japanese zodiac by year of birth:
. The rat : 1900 1960 1912 1972 1924 1984 1936 1996 1948 2008 2020
. Beef : 1901 1961 1913 1973 1925 1985 1937 1997 1949 2009 2021
. Tiger : 1902 1962 1914 1974 1926 1986 1938 1998 1950 2010
. The rabbit : 1903 1963 1915 1975 1927 1987 1939 1999 1951 2011
. The dragon : 1904 1964 1916 1976 1928 1988 1940 2000 1952 2012
. The 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
. The monkey : 1908 1968 1920 1980 1932 1992 1944 2004 1956 2016
. Rooster : 1909 1969 1921 1981 1933 1993 1945 2005 1957 2017
. The dog : 1910 1970 1922 1982 1934 1994 1946 2006 1958 2018
. Wild boar : 1911 1971 1923 1983 1935 1995 1947 2007 1959 2019
Kokeshi dolls are part of Japanese popular arts.
These traditional Japanese wooden dolls and figurines, created during the EDO (1600 - 1868) and originating in the Tohoku region, were originally made for children.
According to the popular beliefs, they were attributed to the function of transmitting messages they hid in their trunk.
The followers of the onsen (thermal springs) of the Tohoku had the habit of buying them to offer them as souvenir.
These small dolls were also a source of revenue for local populations during the winter months of farming activities.
The most popular kokeshis are made of wood to dogworms, famous 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.
The finesse of features surprises.
The finish by applying a polished and lustrous wax layer gives them all their characteristic shine.
In the seventeenth century, they mainly represented children and sported longitudinal forms.
Contemporary versions are less slender, rounder and are available in animal versions, elderly, or more fanciful, of zodiac signs, characters or popular creatures.
The reason is simple, they are coveted collectors as much for their aesthetics and for the virtues that are lent to them: Happiness, Health ...
A must of Japanese folk art!
Delivered in a pretty cardon box ready to offer.
