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What makes this kokeshi special
The look and feel up close
At 30 centimetres she has real physical weight in the hand. The carved grooves deepen the warm honey tone of the wood wherever they pull shadow, and you feel the ribbing before you fully see it.
The autumn leaves sit flat against that dimensional surface: reds toward rust, oranges warm, greens further back. Up close the face is simpler than it looks from a distance, two small eye dashes and the faintest nose mark, and somehow that restraint makes it more present.
Charming details
Turn the piece over and you find a red rectangular seal in tensho, the oldest form of seal script, so compressed that the characters read almost as small pictures. This is the Usaburo studio mark, the equivalent of a maker's mark in European ceramics.
The ribbed body was not carved after turning but cut while the wood was still on the lathe, a technique Okamoto Usaburo developed himself.
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Hand-turned, hand-carved and hand-painted following the techniques developed by Okamoto Usaburo I.
Okamoto Usaburo (岡本卯三郎), 1917 to 2009.
Founder of Usaburo Kokeshi, Shinto Village, Gunma Prefecture.
Began making sōsaku (creative) kokeshi in 1950 after earlier work with artificial stone and metal crafts.
Developed techniques of carving and baking to create three-dimensional surface effects, and worked with wood species previously considered unsuitable for kokeshi including keyaki (zelkova) and chestnut.
Awards: Prime Minister's Award; Minister of International Trade and Industry Award.
His masterpiece Kantsubaki (Camellia in Winter) was purchased by Emperor Shōwa.
The studio remains active under family direction, now in its third generation.
Signed: red seal stamp (inkan) on base in tensho script.
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Shinto Village, Shibukawa area, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
Sōsaku (creative) kokeshi tradition, Usaburo studio.
Estimated Shōwa to early Heisei period, ca. 1970 to 1990.
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Height: approx. 30 cm
Diameter: approx. 9 cm
Weight: approx. 592 gr
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Very nice vintage condition. No dents, cracks, or repairs.
Minor surface wear consistent with her age.
Original studio sticker present on base.
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Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources, both of which can cause the wood to dry out and crack over time.
Do not use water or cleaning products on the painted surface.
Dust with a dry soft cloth.
*Decorative items such as the whisk and plank are for styling
and scale purposes only and not included in the sale
Looking for something similar?
I list in small batches, so there may be more in stock than you currently see.
And if I do not have it yet, I source in Japan a few times a year and am always happy to keep an eye out for you specifically.
Leave your email and a short message through the form on the right and I will get back to you.
Or you can send an email directly → hello@kaikoandco.com
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?
Prefer to see more detailed photos or a video?
Reach out to me directly. I'm here to help you find the perfect piece for your home.
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