Kokeshi are Japanese wooden dolls which were first made in the Edo era (1600 - 1868). The craft is believed to have originated in the Tohoku region when wood turners started to branch out from making practical items, such as plates and cups, into things that the increasing number of visitors to the hot springs (onsen) could buy to take home as gifts (omiyage).
There are two main types of kokeshi;
Dento kokeshi - traditional shapes, styles and patterns are handed down from one generation of kokeshi artisans to the next. These generally have cylindrical bodies with a spherical head.
Sosaku kokeshi - "creative" kokeshi where designers have free rein.
I have examples of Dento kokeshi in my collection as an illustration, however the majority of my collection are Sosaku kokeshi as I collect "nodder" kokeshi (with moving heads).
