Kokeshi

Description:	This particular contemporary Kokeshi figurine represents a Japanese folktale called Taketori monogatari or The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. The story begins when a childless bamboo cutter finds a baby, the size of his thumb, inside a bamboo stalk he cut down. The story primarily details the exploits of five princes to win the hand of the now grown mysterious young woman named Kaguya-hime. This figure is carved in the traditional Kokeshi manner. Kokeshi dolls originated in Tohoku, northern region of the main island of Honshu, probably early in the Edo period (1614-1868). Craftsmen may have invented them as a way to use the scraps of wood left over from making the bowls and trays they sold to tourists at the mountain spas. Now each area has its own style. Today, they are collected mostly for their decorative value.
Source:	http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/tcm/id/660
Collection:	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Rights:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/;
Copyright:	Creative Commons (CC By-SA 3.0);
Subjects:	Japan Japan -- Folklore Wood-carved figurines

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