Yabase Clay Doll {Bird Whistle}
$ 20.00 USD
Pickup currently unavailable
This small clay bird whistle, shaped like a pigeon, is handcrafted in Akita, northern Japan. It is called a Yabase Doll, a traditional folk toy of Akita. When blown from the tail, it makes a low whistling sound, "coo coo."
In the past, it was not only enjoyed as a toy but was also said to have been used to help when food got stuck in the throat by blowing the "coo coo" sound of the bird whistle.
Each piece is carefully handcrafted, and the final details are done with hand-painting, so expect slight variations in each piece.
[SHORTDESCRIPTION]
Material: Clay
Measurements: Approximately 10cm x 5cm x 6cm H
Handcrafted in Akita, Japan
ABOUT YABASE DOLLS
Yabase Doll figurine is a traditional folk toy from Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. Yabase Dolls are simple, handmade clay figures that have been produced in the Yabase area of Akita since the mid-Edo period (1603-1867). About 90 kinds of these dolls, symbolizing good luck, have been crafted by artisans.
In 2014, the last surviving artisan, Tomo Michikawa, passed away, putting over 200 years of tradition at risk of being lost. To preserve this cultural heritage for future generations, several Yabase Doll enthusiasts established the group "Yabase-ningyo Densho no Kai" (Association for Conveying Yabase Dolls). Since then, they have created new dolls and preserved old ones.
