Mint and signed

Here’s a rare Japanese Folk Art survivor trio -three fine dolls hand-carved and hand-painted Kokeshi dolls one of Japan’s most popular antique doll collectibles and unique handicraft forms.

These hand-carved solid cedar wood dolls are signed.

Dimensions:
Tallest 15 inches tall and 3.5 inches diameter, signed bottom
Smallest 12 inches tall and 2,25 inches diameter

Provenance: these come from an amazing 50 year old collection of over two hundred kokeshi dolls found in central Japan.

Hand-carved. Hand-painted. Unique set of three.

About Kokeshi Dolls:

Kokeshi are a popular form of Japanese dolls, originally from northern Japan. They can date back to the earliest part of the 20th century. Old antique examples are widely collected and typically hand-carved and hand-painted from wood with a simple trunk and an enlarged head. The heads are simply painted with a few lines to define the face. The body may have a variety of designs including florals and flora painted in red, black, and sometimes yellow, and covered with a layer of wax. One characteristic of kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs. The bottom or sides are typically marked with the signature of the artist. Old antique specimens can sell for as little as twenty five dollars a piece to many hundreds of dollars for master works. Mint, signed and boxed examples are especially difficult to find.