I must honestly admit that I had never heard of Kokeshi dolls until I saw them at the newly opened That Concept Store in the Mall of Emirates in Dubai. There was a cute collection of these adorable wooden peg dolls that caught my attention in this store full of eclectic stuff.
Originating from Northern Japan, Kokeshi dolls are handmade from wood, have a simple trunk with no arms or legs and a round head. They were often exchanged among friends with messages as tokens of friendship. How interesting!
But I was enthused by this modern take on Kokeshi dolls by Sketch Inc for Design Collective Lucie Kaas. Lucie Kaas has a range of Kokeshi dolls inspired by historical icons from the worlds of art, design, and fashion. Each doll is unique, hand painted and makes a real design statement. Lucie Kaas is known for minimalist design that draws its influence from various sources and has partnered with character design specialists Sketch Inc to create a collection of these dolls. The collection depicts a number of pop culture icons and symbols that are cute and oh-so-collectible!
These handcrafted wooden dolls are a collector’s delight and probably one of the most intriguing traditional crafts originating from Japan. At first glance, they all look the same, wooden peg dolls with their round heads, simple trunk without arms or legs, and painted lines to suggest a face, hair, clothes, and accessories. These cylindrical wooden toys appeal to people of all ages and have won increasing favor with tourists. Kokeshi are now enjoying a renewed surge of interest. Each doll is one of a kind, making it an ideal collector’s item.
Kokeshi are enjoying another wave of popularity, driven mainly by young women. These women—who call themselves kokeshi joshi—avidly search out not just traditional dolls but also collect new, creative forms of the art.
Internet research says that Kokeshi were originally souvenirs for Japanese tourists and offered entertainment to children. However, they developed into something much more. They were first produced in the late Edo Period, possibly sometime between 1804-1830, and the Togatta hot spring area is believed to have been the birthplace of the first wooden dolls. They were sold as souvenirs to the visitors who considered them good luck charms for health and fortune, or simply as toys for their children. There are various traditional styles of kokeshi from all over Japan and all are characterized by the simplicity of their form.
The Good
Cute collectibles that can become the focal point of conversations at parties!
The Bad
You get one and you want to get them all!
The Trendy
Iconic Japanese style, imbued with Scandinavian penchant for understated, playful design.
That Concept Store has a collection of these dolls and if you are a true fashionista, I am sure, you will love having dolls of Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour or Marilyn Monroe. There are Salavador Dali and Frida Kahlo and many more for the art lovers. In short, there is a doll for everyone! Go check it out.