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What makes this kokeshi duo special
The up close look and feel
The wood is the colour of pale birch in winter light, and barely anything has been added to it. Lathe grooves run in horizontal rings across the lower portion of each figure, giving the surface a quiet texture under the fingers.
The face is found rather than displayed, small carved lines set into the curve of the wood, a few strokes that together resolve into a child looking out from inside a coat. Each piece is lighter than it looks.
Held together in one hand they just fill the palm.
Charming details
The title on the tomobako is 雪の詩, Yuki no Uta, poem of the snow. The rounded form is a mino, the traditional Japanese straw coat worn over the head and body in heavy weather, and Murakami used it across his career as a recurring subject: a figure so bundled against the cold that almost nothing human remains visible.
On these two you cannot tell front from back until you find the face. That is not an accident. That is the subject.
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Made by Murakami Kenichi (村上けんー).
Born 1929, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture. Died 1991.
Born into a family of woodworkers, Murakami first studied oil painting before turning to sōsaku kokeshi around 1946.
Known for minimal decoration, natural wood grain as the primary design element, and pyrography techniques applied in place of paint.
From 1962 onward, his work won numerous prizes at national exhibitions including the Prime Minister Award.
In 1976 his pieces were shown internationally in West Germany and the United States. Galleries at Ginza Matsuzakaya among others.
Signed: maker's mark on the base and on the box.
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Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
Shōwa period, ca. 1970s.
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Height: ca. 6 cm each
Width: ca. 5.5 cm each
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Excellent vintage condition.
Both pieces appear to have seen minimal handling and retain their original surface in full.
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As it is natural wood with minimal surface treatment keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.
Clean with a soft dry cloth only.
They should be stored in stable humidity, away from damp and from extreme dryness, which can cause the wood to crack over time.
*Decorative items such as the whisk are for styling
and scale purposes only and not included in the sale
Meet our other kokeshi
Questions before you buy?
Since my items are one-of-a-kind pieces, I want to ensure they reach you perfectly.
Questions about the history or condition?
Need a custom shipping quote or shipping outside the EU?
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Reach out to me directly. I'm here to help you find the perfect piece for your home.
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