Post #59226 by Tiki_Bong on Sun, Nov 9, 2003 7:16 PM

These figurines are a part of Madame Bong's collection of Hawaiiana. The figurines shown here are known as Hakata Urusaki ceramic dolls. These were producted during the 1950s and early 60's.

These are rare ceramic figurines that were produced in a district of Japan, that by the 1950's, was already renowned for a tradition of hundreds of years of dinstinctive ceramic work.

A man from Hawai'i, George Song, was stationed in Tokyo in 1955 and became familiar with the Hakata pieces. After touring the factories and then returing home to Hawai'i, he worked with his brother in-law, Josheph Wu, to photograph several local people to serve as models for a series of Hakata figurines. The models were first found in La'ie.

As art objects, the Hakata pieces were all detailed by hand and no more than a hundred of each one is estimated to have been produced. Their life-like appearance is due to the matt finish.

They were on the market for only two years, starting in 1955, and were sold exclusively at the two Liberty House stores and the Schofield Barracks and Pearl Harbor PX's.

Unfortunately, their high cost at the time ($10 - $35 each) kept sales too low for Song's venture to be a financial success.

Ukulele player

Uli uli player

Ipu player man

Ipu player woman

Baby Bongs

[ Edited by: Tiki_Bong on 2003-11-09 19:19 ]