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What makes this kokeshi special
The up close look and feel
The chrysanthemum on a Yajiro kokeshi looks different from any other tradition: one wide, outward-facing bloom seen from directly above, petals fanning in all directions from a pale centre, filling the lower body like a burst of light.
The faces are done in a few precise strokes: the hair in black, a small suggestion of features, horizontal lines at the sides of the head in red. The wood has a warm wax finish, smooth in the hand, lighter than it looks.
Charming details
Harumi signs her work in hiragana, はる美, which is unusual. Most kokeshi makers use kanji for their signatures, the way you would sign a formal document. Hiragana reads softer, more personal, closer to the way you would write a name in a letter to someone you know.
Turn the two bases over side by side and the signatures are nearly identical, written from the same hand on the same day. Then look back at the faces. They are almost the same, and not quite.
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Made by Inoue Harumi (井上はる美).
Second-generation Yajiro female kokeshi maker, Miyagi Prefecture.
Daughter of Inoue Shiro (born 1931) and Inoue Yukiko, both established Yajiro kokeshi makers.
Yukiko trained within the Yajiro lineage and passed the craft directly to Harumi.
Signed: yes, in hiragana (はる美) on the base of each piece.
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Yajiro, near Kamasaki Onsen, Miyagi Prefecture, Tohoku region, Japan.
Shōwa period, ca. 1970s.
Interesting fact about the Yajiro style: it is one of eleven officially recognised traditional kokeshi strains (dentō kokeshi). Yajiro craftsmen have won the All Japan Kokeshi Contest on multiple occasions.
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Heights: ca. 20 cm
Weight together: ca. 420 g
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Good vintage condition.
Light surface wear consistent with age.
The painted flower decoration on both pieces is intact and the colours remain warm and clear.
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No water and no damp cloth.
The painted decoration is applied directly to the wood and will lift if it comes into contact with moisture.
Clean with a soft dry cloth only.
Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources. The wood will dry out and may crack near a radiator over time, and older pieces are more sensitive to this than newer ones.
*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 piece, I want to ensure it reaches 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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