As a child, I often stayed with my Aunt Shirley and Uncle Ralph, whose father served under MacArthur during the Reconstruction of Japan on in the late 1940’s and early 1950s. He purchased these delightful figures for the women in his family.
My Aunt loved all things Asian and was quite a collector herself. At that age, I could only observe, but never touch, the many items she had artistically arranged throughout their home.
These “Suyaki” – bisque-ware, “Ningyo” -human shaped dolls, originally came from the old city of Hakata which is now Fukuoka Prefecture.
These pieces rightfully passed onto my cousins, who have also inherited my Aunt’s refined taste, and love of Oriental arts.
samuraidolls 