Rare Vintage Creative kokeshi by Hajime Miyashita(1940-)

This charming creative (Sosaku) kokeshi doll by the acclaimed artisan Hajime Miyashita, features a wonderfully stylized and playful design. She has a distinctive, large, somewhat square-shaped head with finely painted brown hair, side bangs, and a serene facial expression highlighted by delicate eyelashes and a tiny red mouth. A standout feature of this doll is her adorable pigtails, which hang down on either side of her head and are tied with small red bands. Her rounded, gently tapered body is painted in a vibrant red lacquer to represent a traditional kimono, beautifully decorated with a white and blue cross-hatched (kasuri or ikat) pattern. The natural wood grain shows beautifully at the base of the doll.

Born in Yonezawa City, Iwate, Miyashita-san studied traditional kokeshi making artist Kobayashi Kichitaro. He began his Sosaku career in 1959, winning many awards, including the the most important off them all the Prime Minister’s Award in 1977.  Even Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako purchased his masterpieces in 1969. His studio was located in Maebashi City of Gunma Prefecture, but his studio took fire in 2006 , Miyashita-san retired after this disaster.

Height: 31cm

Weight: 900g

Look closely at the photos to determine the condition of the item.