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.

CONDITION is excellent. DIMENSIONS: 3” (7.6 cm) x 2 ¼” (5.7 cm) x 4 ¼” (11 cm) high.