The fascinating world of Japanese doll collecting For centuries, Japanese doll artisans created spectacular works of art, invested with both significant cultural meaning and elemental beauty, encased in the deceptively simple body of a doll. "Japanese Dolls: The Fascinating World of Ningyo, " is a cornucopia of information for Japanese art collectors, Asian doll collectors and doll enthusiasts of all levels and interests. Full of beautiful photographs, the book details 18 kinds of widely collected, obtainable and affordable, antique and vintage dolls and figurines ("ningyo"). Author Alan Scott Pate--the leading American expert on Japanese dolls--writes in illuminating detail about the traditions of each type of doll and shares practical tips on how to collect this amazing Japanese art form. Included are: Festival dolls "hina-ningyo," "musha-ningyo," tableau dollsDisplay dolls "saga-ningyo," "gosho-ningyo," "isho-ningyo," "iki-ningyo"Wood dolls "kamo-ningyo," "nara-ningyo," "kokeshi-ningyo"Clay dolls "fushimi-ningyo," "hakata-ningyo"Mechanical dolls "karakuri-ningyo," "kobe-ningyo"Theatrical dolls "bunraku-ningyo," "takeda-ningyo"Play dolls "ichimatsu-ningyo," "keue saiko".