Here are a few new listings. It is a mix of supplies and vintage items.
First we have this lovely cotton cherry blossom fabric in a lovely shade of pinky salmon.
Next, we have a vintage print of a traditional Japanese dance.
This is a beautiful Japanese print. There are 2 women dancing "Awa
Odori". This is a magazine cut out. The painting on this print is shown
at the 17th Exhibition of the the Nihon Bijutsuin (The Japan Art
Institute). It is created by Kitano Tsunetomi.
The Awa Dance
Festival is held from 12 to 15 August as part of the Obon festival in
Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku in Japan. Awa Odori is the largest dance
festival in Japan, attracting over 1.3 million tourists every year.
These ceramic bells, called "dorei" They are a lucky charm.
This is a ceramic bell called 土鈴 "dorei". 鈴 is "Suzu" which means bell and 土 is "do" which means earth, soil and is part of 粘土 meaning clay. So...this is a clay/ceramic bell. These bells have a ceramic ball inside so the sound is a coarse, rolling sound.
Bells of all kinds, have a long history in Japan. Dorei (ceramic bells) date back to the prehistoric Jomon Era (10,000 B.C.-300 B.C.). These bells were used to scare away evil. At Shinto shrines, large bells drape over entrances, as it is said that ringing them calls gets the attention of the Gods allowing one to acquire positive power and authority, while repelling evil.
This is a "migawari suzu" which is a type of "omamori". Omamori are amulets - they are physical objects that contain the spiritual essence and powers of a deity or buddha . " Migawari omamori" (身代わりお守り,means that the item takes the place of the person...so the bad luck is transferred, in this case, to the bell.
For a fabulous and interesting read on omamori please see http://www.tofugu.com/2014/06/25/omamori-protecting-yourself-in-little-ways/
This bell is from kamakura, kanagawa, Japan. Beautiful plum blossoms are painted on it. There are so many beautiful plum blossom spots to watch. It is in November 2001.
鎌倉 kamakura
鈴 suzu = bell
梅 ume = plum blossoms
This bell is about 11 cm high (including rope loop) and about 6 cm wide.
