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Vintage Set of 5 Traditional Hand-Painted Japanese Kokeshi Dolls, c.1950s

$1,074.21per set
$1,342.76per set20% Off
£784per set
£980per set20% Off
€914.49per set
€1,143.12per set20% Off
CA$1,471.40per set
CA$1,839.25per set20% Off
A$1,636.52per set
A$2,045.65per set20% Off
CHF 854.54per set
CHF 1,068.17per set20% Off
MX$19,914.68per set
MX$24,893.35per set20% Off
NOK 10,913.77per set
NOK 13,642.21per set20% Off
SEK 10,235.19per set
SEK 12,793.98per set20% Off
DKK 6,825.22per set
DKK 8,531.52per set20% Off
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About the Item

For sale is a vintage set of five traditional Japanese wooden 'Naruko' and 'Togatta' style "Kokeshi" dolls, dating from circa the mid-20th century. Consisting of five different-sized, unique hand-painted dolls, some hand-signed and inscribed and ranging in size from 27cm to 49cm, the set is in fair vintage condition with patina, wear, discolouration and moisture marks consistent with age & use. Kokeshi are wooden dolls that originate from the Tōhoku region of north-eastern Japan and which emerged as a folk craft from hot spring mountain villages at the end of the Edo period (1603-1868 CE). There are 12 styles of doll across the region, each hailing from a different hot spring (onsen) town or area, and differentiated by head and body shape, facial features, colour and decoration, of which these are of the "Naruko" and "Togatta" types. The dolls are believed to have originally been made for children but also came to be produced as souvenirs and mementoes for special occasions/achievements such as graduations. Each area in the Tōhoku region had its own local name to describe the wooden dolls they made. However, this had the potential to confuse collectors, so, in the 1940s, makers agreed to use one standard name: ‘kokeshi’. As a general rule, the grouping of Kokeshi in odd numbers, such as three, five, seven and nine is considered as traditional. Doll 1: 49cm tall / Doll 2: 46.5cm tall / Doll 3: 37cm tall / Doll 4: 34cm tall / Doll 5: 27cm tall
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 19.3 in (49 cm)Diameter: 5.12 in (13 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 5
  • Style:
    Edo (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1950s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: Kokeshi_Dolls_021stDibs: LU7068240082132

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