This Green Woodpecker is woodblock print and sewn by hand, by Shin Kogei. Founded in Hida-Takayama in the snowy north of Gifu prefecture by a local artist, Shin Kogei are known for skill in printing. Hida-Takayama was an important castle town in the Middle Ages, and today has a fine tradition for wooden furniture. Shin Kogei use this wood to make their printing blocks. Designs of animals that can be seen in Hida- Takayama, are transferred to the woodblocks and hand dyed onto natural cotton. Each colour designates a different block used, showing the time spent on each. The animals are filled with natural casks and hand sewn. The Green Woodpecker is one of the birds that can be seen in the local forests, and in this case is around 20cm x 7cm