... looking for help identifying this crazy hat wearing guy.



Anyone?

Materials:

* wood and bone

Notable Features:
* hat can be unscrewed to reveal cavity holding some bone dice.
* elongated eyes pop out when doll tilited forward.
* was told it's Japanese.
* was told made late 19th to early 20th century.
* looked to be missing another bone knife or other accessory.
* mouth looked like it was missing something too. Possibly a bone tongue that swiveled.

Many many thanks to anyone out there who can help with more info!

...this thing is blowing my mind.

I don't know what it is... but dice holder?! I'm in.

I believe he is holding a fan or a tessen (iron fan) and not a knife.

^^^^
thanks guys!

I posted it on Instagram too, and people told me it is probably a Kobe Doll.

Don't know anything much other than that though, so further help ID-ing appreciated!

Thanks.

Yeah, its a Kobe toy. I see these from time to time on ebay. Prices seem to range from 100 to 250 on this little guy. The more intricate Kobe toys go for more.

^^^^
...thanks!

Got this description from a guy selling another wood n bone toy on Ebay:

"KOBE TOYS WERE NEVER EXPORTED NOR WERE THEY SOLD DOMESTICALLY DESIGNED AND HANDCRAFTED AS SOUVENIRS MOST BOUGHT BY ENGLISH SAILORS AROUND 1890 TO 1910"

I know of lots of writing and info on Netsuke, but anyone know any resources on Kobe Dolls/Toys?

...can't really find much online myself...

Much appreciated!

... googled again. STILL can't find much info.

BUT managed to find more pics of these delightful creations!









...such personality in all of them!

... thanks!

Starting to learn i CAN google ok, but i suck at finding foreign language stuff.

Many thanks for the link!

Copy/Pasted history below for ease:

"Kobe doll" is a wind-up doll was born in Kobe in the mid-Meiji era. Doll on the table is to move the hand, shook his head, eating a watermelon by opening a big mouth, drinking sake .... Delicate mechanism with its comical movement was not only recap Kobe-kko, the popularity of foreign tourists visiting Kobe. In fact, Kobe doll made ​​early Showa from Meiji, has been left many parts of Europe and America.

　Work materials such as Tsuge (Boxwood) is used, and emphasized the beauty of the wood surface is large and Kobe puppet of the Meiji era, because it was sold or "haunted doll", "Nunobiki doll" waterfall (tourist attraction, Nunobiki It was also called, etc.). The beginning of the Showa era, by the time the whole work is to be painted in black, the name "Kobe doll" was gradually established.

　After the war, and you know as the author of the Kobe doll, Kobe hundreds of kinds and Oda FutoshiShiro, made ​​famous Kobe doll be eyed as Dezaki Fusamatsu Noguchi Hyakuoni-do the original, and the second generation, in the early Showa It is Suoka MiyabiAtsushi who energetically made ​​the doll. Without a creator over the past few years, it became the abolition state, but in Japan Toy Museum from 2002, was carried out restoration work and "eating watermelon" and "only liquor", and including activities that go hand to the next generation have.

Wow, that is a really interesting toy and history!
Thanks for sharing!!

... damn pleasure Walt!

Importantly thanks to the boardies who helped piece together the info.

NOW to find some at decent prices...