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*** click to
enlarge any image *** |
Old Fashioned Japanese Cradles
 In
the northern part of the main Japanese island of Honshu and particularly
on the island of Hokkaido, winters can be very harsh and bitter cold. In
the past, people kept warm by putting on extra layers of kimono, stoking the
hibachi heating brazier, and drinking warm sake. Children and babies
required extra attention to ensure their comfort, and some were provided with
makeshift cradles fashioned from large baskets or wooden tubs stuffed with
carefully arranged blankets. A drawstring at the top was used to snug the
little one warm in his bed where he could sleep or rest happily on the floor
with his family. The cradle could even be used to transport a child to
community events such as temple festivals (note the baby and his cradle on the
ground in the second photo below). Some Japanese doll makers specialize in
the creation of realistic-looking, miniature old fashioned cradles complete with
a happy infant peeking from his bundles of blankets. Such dolls (example
below) represent a very specialized example of the wonder and diversity of doll
making in Japan.
*** click to enlarge ***
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Click
here
to see old fashioned Japanese cradle dolls available for purchase from our eBay store
The Old Tokaido. (Please note that these dolls are a bit hard to find
and keep in stock. So please check back again if you find that
none are currently available) |
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