Follow the adorable clay characters an move your body!

One of the wonderful traditions of Christmas is the Nativity. But you don't have to be Christian or a regular churchgoer to love these wonderful displays. The creativity and artistry speaks to all children and to the child in us all. Nativity is a scene from the stories of the birth of Jesus. They are in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. With inspiration in these stories, you use either figurines or live people to create the scene and convey the story. These...

James Opies’ highly popular Collecting Toy Soldiers (1987) was an inspirational book for anyone involved in the hobby. Nearly a quarter of a century on, this is a completely new companion updating the experience for the twenty-first century collector. James now gives the reader the benefit of over thirty years participation as one of the world’s leading authorities on toy soldiers, figures and models, and a lifetime as a collector himself. Collecting...

One of the wonderful traditions of Christmas is the Nativity. But you don't have to be Christian or a regular churchgoer to love these wonderful displays. The creativity and artistry speaks to all children and to the child in us all. Nativity is a scene from the stories of the birth of Jesus. They are in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. With inspiration in these stories, you use either figurines or live people to create the scene and convey the story. These...

This vintage book contains a detailed guide to dolls, exploring their history, popularity, and evolution the world over. From the dolls of the Native Americans to those of the Chinese, "The Doll Book" covers it all, making it a must-read for serious doll enthusiasts and collectors alike.

With dozens of color photographs and fun, informative text, this guide to Japanese otafuku is a delight for collectors or Japanese culture enthusiasts. Anywhere you go in Japan you are likely to encounter the plump, smiling image of Otafuku. Author Amy Sylvester Katoh traces the roots and folk beginnings of this mythic figure, showing Otafuku's many delightful identities, and providing a magical glimpse into this charming character who has become...

Japanese Netsuke miniature carvings are profiled in this wonderful Japanese arts book. These tiny masterpieces of sculpture (mostly in ivory and wood), of lacquer, and of metalwork captivated collectors with the charm of their conception, the intricacy of their detail, and the sheer tactile pleasure of handling them. Basically they were utilitarian in purpose, serving as toggles or pendants to support medicine boxes, tobacco pouches, and similar articles...

Europe has many wonderful old traditions, and one of them is the Christmas market. The Christmas market in Vienna in Austria is truly amazing. It is one of the oldest in the World — it started at a "December market" in 1298, although that may not qualify as a "real" Christmas market among historians. The "December market" was by the Cathedral, St Stephan Dom. Christmas markets became a tradition in German speaking lands and ushered in the four...

Contemporary Netsuke is an in-depth study of Japanese netsuke-miniature sculptures that are favorites of collectors and artists. In this unusual and engaging Japanese art book the author traces the historical background of netsuke and goes on to examine its current state, at the same time providing the background knowledge that every collector needs concerning authenticity, workmanship, and materials along with a wealth of information on subject matter,...

Featuring dozens of Japanese netsuke masterpieces and extensive commentary, this Japanese art book is a treasured collector's item. Netsuke are superb miniature carvings, usually less than two inches high, that have been created by Japanese artists for over three hundred years. During that time, they have portrayed almost every aspect of life and culture in Japan. These tiny carvings were traditionally used to prevent the cord attached to a gentleman's...