H40xW40mm, China
TRICK OR TREAT?
This is part of a set of the zodiac animals clay gu gu toy. They are called gu gu because they are whistle toy and makes “gu gu” sound. Traditionally families would gather to hand build them together after the harvest season in the winter. The gu gu normally has a black base colour and highlighted with bright colours but unlike the other clay toys they are glazed and then fired. Happy Halloween!
L500mm, China
This is a snake toy made of section of small bamboo, with each section held together by a small metal rod. Holding on to the tail section, it will become animated and move like a real snake ready to attack!
H150xD100mm, China
Today continuing with the Halloween theme with something less scary. This straw witch is perfect for Halloween decoration.
H150xW150mm, China
Shopping for Halloween?
We have masks, decoration and tonnes of other scary items!
L80xH80xW60mm, China
Cloth tiger is a common toy for children in China. Though we have all kinds of monstrous toys on the market nowadays, it would seems strange for a folk toy to be based on a vicious animal like the tiger. In the days when life in less protected against nature and disease, the Chinese look on the tiger as a symbol of strength, bravery and good health. The cloth tiger becomes a symbol of protection and a blessing for the young. On the 5th of the lunar month of may, the day when ritual would be performed for plague prevention, faces of the children will be painted yellow with tiger pattern for extra protection. Cloth tiger would be given to a child 3 days after its birth, on its 100 days birthday, 1st and 2nd birthdays and on Chinese New Year as a blessing to the child.
W200xH100, China
Jan Zi is a game that has been popular in China and some other asian countries since the Han dynasty, since 1933 it has also been included in the National Games of the PRC competition. The aim of the game is for the player to keep the weighted Jan Zi in the air using only their feet, a bit like volleyball or badminton. The game can be divided broadly into three categories; causal, style and competition. Causal; surround in a circle, passing the Jan Zi from player to player. Style; free style and fixed style competition. Competition; players to compete across a net, the game is similar to badminton where a larger jan zi is used. The upper part of the Jan Zi is made up of goose feather while the weight at the base of cloth finished up with a piece of leather.
Dog H20xL20mm, China
Children like creating sounds and Chinese children are no different, in fact sound making toy is a category by itself! What can more desirable than a portable cute looking figurine that can make beautiful sounds! Both of these whistles have a tail at the end as a mouth piece, the second hole for generating the sound is located at the bottom. These ceramic whistles are in the shape of a dog and a bird.
(S) H100xW50mm, China
This is not what the name suggests, it is perfectly legal… Strands of hemp fiber are tied to a metal wire like a bottle brush. With these wire, the monkey can becomes quite animated. The monkey comes in three different sizes with the large one going up to 300mm tall.
H150xW100xD80mm, China
This is a clay toy named Da A Fu; legend has it that once upon a time, the area of Hui Shan was inhabited by wild monsters. The villagers were very afraid of them. One day the the Sand Child god, named Da A Fu, was send from heaven to tame the monsters. With magical powers, just a grin from Da A Fu, the monsters would become very gentle. The villagers made clay figures of Da A Fu to commemorate him. The figures are also used as a protector of devils.
L100xH100xW50, Japan
To continue with the moon theme on the day of “moon chasing”, a rabbit is chosen for today’s topic. In the Japanese folk tale: an old man was at the end of his life, a fox, a monkey and a rabbit came to his aid. The monkey collected nuts and fruits, the fox catch a fish. The rabbit could only come up with some grass, so he decided to jumped into the fire and offer his own body. The old man touched by the rabbit’s act and reveal himself as the Buddha and save the rabbit. It is believe that the pattern on the moon is casted by the smoke when the rabbit jumped into the fire. This papier mache is rabbit from the 12 zodiac figures from the Sendai region. The head of the rabbit is made to swing.
Mountain Folkcraft 