These ingenious mechanical toys take their name from the port of Kobe, where the main period of production lasted from1870 to the 1920’s. These small wooden automata were simply hand-carved and the colors subdued. Most parts are mobile, and heads, arms and sometimes mouths are actioned by an intricate system of wheels, pulleys and strings which are activated by a knob. The intricacy of the internal workings is truly amazing. There is no attempt at aesthetic effect – movement is the primary purpose – and usually these toys simply consist of one or more torsos on top of a small box in which the mechanism is concealed. All Kobe toys have some movable parts (eyes, tongues, heads, etc.), and they always portray a Negroid human figure. For the most part, these works were sold as souvenirs along the docks of the port of Kobe during the Meiji period, and the majority of purchasers were sailors and Western tourists.

In 1981 there was an exhibition held in Kobe city which displayed antique Kobe dolls as a part of the history of Kobe. At the same time, newly produced Kobe toys were sold at the exhibit as unique souvenirs of the city, just as they had been in Meiji times. These newly made Kobe toys were fashioned after their older ancestors. They still exhibit the flavor and charm of older Kobe toys and are highly collectible as well.

Nara ningyo are cypress wood (hinoki) dolls which are carved using a technique called “itto-bori” or one-knife carving. They are cut in sharp, angular planes and painted in strong, pure matte colors. They usually depict figures from the Noh drama. Noh is a classical Japanese performance form which combines elements of dance, drama, music and poetry into one highly aesthetic stage art. It was performed throughout the country by professional artists, mainly men, who have passed down the art among family members for numerous generations. Noh was a theater of subtle suggestion rather than direct statement, and the mask and stiff sumptuous robe of the actor identified the personage he was representing. His fan was his most important accessory in the stylized posturing, indicating the type of play and the character being portrayed.

Gosho ningyo as a whole are considered gift dolls, whether from the Imperial Household or as a gift for an auspicious occasion, such as the celebration of a new born baby. The gosho doll is one of noble descent, and the name means “palace doll,” a reference to the Imperial Palace in Kyoto during the Edo period where they originated. In most examples, the clothing is limited to a strict minimum, and it is either painted or pasted on. Gosho ningyo are a uniquely Japanese form, and by tradition, they represent chubby, almost naked little boys with large heads, round bodies and brilliant white skin. They generally show an originality and character which places them in a special category of Japanese dolls. In Japan these dolls are considered to be a classic art form and are appreciated as such.

Crawling dolls (called “haihai”) served a special purpose to ward off evil and are the gosho equivalent of the earliest type of Japanese doll known as “Amagatsu” or “Hoko.” These early dolls dating back to the Heian (794-1185) period were human forms created to carry the burden of illness. The gosho variety were not created to be set adrift in a river as the earlier dolls were but were instead meant to be kept near a child so that evil or illness would enter the doll instead of the child. The haihai gosho doll was modeled after a baby crawling on his stomach with front arms outstretched, legs extended and head looking up, often depicted in the simplest of ways. (See “Gosho-Ningyo: Palace Dolls from the Ayervais Collection” by Timothy Mertel in ARTS OF ASIA, July/August 1996.) This unusual haihai gosho ningyo would make a wonderful addition to any Japanese doll collection.

The gosho doll is one of noble descent, and the name means “palace doll,” a reference to the Imperial Palace in Kyoto during the Edo period. In most examples, the clothing is limited to a strict minimum, and it is either painted or pasted on. Gosho ningyo are a uniquely Japanese form, and by tradition, they represent chubby, almost naked little boys with large heads, round bodies and brilliant white skin. They generally show an originality and character which places them in a special category of Japanese dolls. The gosho was created as a presentation doll and was not meant to be a plaything. Although originally the privilege of the aristocracy, gosho dolls gradually became widely popular. In Japan these dolls are considered to be a classic art form and are appreciated as such.