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 Clay Dolls (Tsuchi Ningyo)
Tsuchi ningyo, clay dolls, are quite different from several of the other doll types featured here. Closely related to pottery, these doll figures made of molded clay originated in Fushimi, presently a district of Kyoto. They are considered a folk art. They are molded in two parts, front and back, which are connected with clay and coated with a white finish, then fired in a kiln. After that they are painted and possibly glazed, then fired again.
Dolls that were made at the Fushimi kiln are called Fushimi clay dolls. They date back to the early 1600s. Older dolls are characterized by soft colors in shades of orange, green, and gray blue, while modern dolls often have brighter, gaudier colors. Religious and superstitious figures are popular, including animals which were thought to ensure the health of children and easy childbirth, as well as Buddhist figures including Ebisu and Daikoku, two of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan.
  
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