Japanese Traditional Kokeshi | Nambu/Kina-Kina-Kei (Family)

Prefecture: Awata

Origin:

The Nambu version of Kokeshi was inspired by the Naruko and Tougatta dolls. Nambu is also said to have been inspired by the Kina Kina dolls in that they often have light body foundations with colored decorations. Most have lathe-painted ‘rokuro moyo’ colored lines and painted faces with a single bang (or a line of hair across the forehead.,

The Kina Kina style of family dolls is always unpainted and is based on other varieties of painted dolls. This family of traditional dolls might well be considered the original Kokeshi, as it is said they were modeled after a baby’s pacifier. They originated in the cities of Hanamaki and Morioka, and the Yumoto Onsen in Awate Prefecture. Several shapes of kina-kina continue to be made now in somewhat larger sizes. These have been called Kikuriboko, or, "Child of Wood."

Collector's note – characteristics / painting style:

Nanbu — This style has a traditional head and body shape with a head shape, which may “bobble” and squeak when turned, and also has a range of hairstyles, including a single bang, double or split bang, and side hair fringes, with a variety of face styles. Common are eyebrows (a single line) and curved fatae-mabuta eyes, with double closed or slight eyelids. Occasionally, they have single-lid eyes or hitoe mabuta (sleepy eyes). Many have a variety of noses, and small red mouths which are usually open. All their bodies are often decorated with a red lace-like shoulder dome (mori agari bubun), design, and flowers such as chrysanthemums or peonies.

Kina-Kina —

These dolls started as unpainted ‘teething’ dolls, and the wood would have a very smooth surface. These unpainted versions, called Kina-Kina, would have movable heads, similar to the modern “nodders”, where the head will flop back and forth. The head would be of the snap-on type, attached loosely so that it would turn and wobble. At one point, some Nanbu artists, influenced by the popularity of Narugo and Tougatta dolls, began painting the plain Nanbu-kei with stylized chrysanthemums. These decorated dolls were then called Hanamaki dolls with bangs, side fringes, double eyelids, and cat or round noses. Though these plain dolls are not as decorative as others of the traditional school, their unique, flowing forms are stronger visually because of their inherent elegance.