potd - Ejiko Kokeshi

This 'ejiko' baby kokeshi  is based on traditional  baby baskets of northern Japan. These were used so the baby could be left safely while you were working in the fields nearby.  They were  filled with straw and sometimes ash  which could be easily cleaned out. There seems to have been quite a variety and some were actually wooden buckets.  Kokeshi also come from northern Japanese so ejiko kokeshi are fairly common though I haven't seen another one with a natural wood finish like this.

Photo source

potd - Old Map

Something a little different....  a map of the Tokyo  Peace Commemorative Exhibition at Ueno Park  in 1922.  The advertisement in the top right hand corner is for the Hananoka brewery that was founded in 1902 and  still sells sake with the same logo.

 

potd - Old Bag Display

Thanks to everyone who's been in to see my Old Bags! display. It ends on Saturday.

potd - Shipping Poster

I'm researching some old prints and posters before I put them in the shop. This is an old Mitsubishi shipping agent's wood block printed  poster  that I think  dates from between 1873 (when the Mitsubishi name was adopted) and 1885 (when it merged with another company to become the NYK line) . The red panel shows  the names of all their ships.  Prints in this period had become very bright as new inks were introduced from the west. This red (or even brighter) is typical of Meiji  period prints of the late 19th century.

potd - Fukuro Obi

I still have a lot of obi from my last shipment. They're mostly mid- late 20th century. I'm just putting out these fukuro obi which are popular for wall hangings and runners  - and some customers even use them as obi!

potd - Indigo Otedama

I'm just putting out some traditional otedama bean bags that I've been making from tiny  antique indigo scraps.

potd - Books

I just put these books  out this morning...

Old Bag Display

I'm putting on a display  simply called 'Old Bags!'. It will be  in the shop and runs  from  tomorrow (market day  10am - 3pm) until Saturday 26th September.  There will be a wide variety of  old and traditional Japanese bags, wallets and purses from my own collection (sorry not for sale) -  I think about 40 in total .  They range from tiny  saikumono decorative  chirimen silk bags through to well-used practical  indigo cotton kinchaku drawstring bags.  I'll post more pictures but I  hope you can come along for a look.

potd - Kits

I've finally started making some kits - it's only taken me  18 years!  Here are a couple of bag kits I've put out this week -  an antique indigo komebukuro rice bag and a little coin pouch.   More small kits to come soon.

potd - Baby Silks?

I had a lady in the shop yesterday who bought this orange floral kimono silk to make a  summer dress for her newborn granddaughter. I thought it was a perfect choice -  simply pretty and beautifully soft and cool at the same time.  I picked out a couple of others that were equally as soft and pretty.  I'm sure all babies should wear silk!

potd - Silk Shibori

Sorry I haven't been very diligent with my photos of the day! here are some silk shibori kimono fabrics...

potd - Kimono Fabric

Kimono fabric for an online order...

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