Vintage, RARE Traditional Yajirou Kokeshi by Niiyama, Hisashiro

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Dimensions: 12-0”h

This exceptional Yajirou Kokeshi by Niiyama (b.1942), who studied under Master Niiyama, Hisashi  who are comes from a small farming village of Yajirou, near Kamasaki Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture. Because the villagers of Yajirou were primarily farmers, it wasn’t until after the mid-20th century that the crafting of Kokeshi dolls and selling them to the tourists became their main source of income. As a result, the great majority of Yajirou dolls are some of the newest of the ten families.

This beautifully finished doll is executed in Enju, (Pagoda), wood with black sumi-e’ graphics representing chrysanthemum petals running down the from of the body. The majority of this style have wider bases, making them very stable. The entire head is painted black in a circular pattern, with simulated hair and side fringes, and a face showing one lid eyelid, eye brows, a cat-shaped nose and a red dot for lips. The script signature of the artist with other details are on the bottom of the doll.

Condition: Excellent, original condition, with no fading or loss of color and consistent with age. The piece meets all the standards of collectible Folk Art.