Kokeshi doll – Yajiro by Sato Minao (佐藤美奈雄) – medium (25cm)

Medium (25cm) hand-made traditional Kokeshi doll brightly painted with vivid blossom motifs between red and purple stripes all over a yellow background colour.

This vintage piece has been turned, scribed and painted by hand and has real character, along with some light wear and faded paint that gives it a great patina. It has the artist’s signature on the base (Sato Minao 佐藤美奈雄).

This slim-waste style of Kokeshi is from the village of Yajiro in Shiroishi (Miyagi Prefecture). The Yajiro style includes a head painted with colorful rings that look like a beret with wide lines on the body and designs on the collar and skirt painted freehand.

Dento 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: 1980s
Dimensions: H: 25cm | W: base 5cm | W: head 8cm
Condition: Good – no cracks, only minor scuffs. Natural age-related wear.
Weight: 0.36kg