Kokeshi doll – Naruko by Sakurai Akihiro with squeak – medium (29cm)

Medium (29cm) hand-made traditional Kokeshi doll with large faded hand-painted chrysanthemum design was made in the Naruko hot springs area of Miyagi Prefecture.

This vintage piece has been turned and shaped to an inverted outline and painted by hand and has real character, along with some wear that gives it a great patina. This piece has the artist’s signature on the base (Sakurai Akihiro) and is ‘Hamekomi’ (has a squeak to imitate a baby)

Kokeshi are simple wooden toys that have been crafted for more than 150 years as children’s dolls, mementos and good luck charms. These simple but very decorative gems originate from Tohoku-chiho region of North-East Japan. Due to the many different sizes, shapes and designs available, they look great as a collection.

Period: post 1960s
Dimensions: H: 29cm | W: base 7cm | W: head 9cm
Condition: Good – no cracks, only minor scuffs. Natural age related wear particularly to the paint.
Weight: 0.549kg