*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.

This listing is for a pair of red and white kimekomi lion dancer kabuki dolls made around 20 years ago. The dolls depict a white lion dancing with its red-maned cub.  The dance is called 'Renjishi', and it tells the story of father lion (white hair) who decides to test the power and courage of his cub (red hair) by throwing him off a cliff. The cub survives the fall and manages to climb back, and the dance is a celebration of the cub’s achievement. Kimekomi refers to fabric art using a solid base such as wood. The process for making a doll involves several different steps. First the artisan marks lines on the base and carves them to make grooves along the surface. Silk is then cut and tucked into the grooves. The fabric is then pasted into the joints. The final part of the process involves attaching the head of the doll. The face of the doll is painted white with gofun and facial features are added using a fine tipped brush.  Hair is often made from silk thread. 

The first known kimekomi dolls were made in the 1700s by Tadashige Takahashi. At the time Takahashi was serving at Kamigamo shrine in Kyoto, and in between jobs he would carve dolls from discarded blocks of willow. During the Edo period kimekomi dolls were made using a resin compound containing sawdust and other matter. They received five coats of lacquer after the initial carving process was complete. Clothing was applied using special paste, and the edges were very carefully tucked into the grooves.

Sizes

White:  H.15.5cm (6.1”) x 16.2cm (6.3”) across x 12.2cm (4.8”) from back to front

Red:  H.14.3cm (5.6”) x 15.7cm (6.1”) across x 11cm (4.3”) from back to front

Condition

The white doll is missing a hand and his other hand is discoloured, and the red doll has discoloured hands.

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Asia:  Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-21 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico:  EMS Express 10-15 days.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.