This cute pair of sosaku (creative) kokeshi dolls was handcrafted by Issetsu Kuribayashi. Born in 1926 in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, Kuribayashi is considered a pioneer of the sosaku movement and a founding member of the Yonezawa Miyukikai in 1960. He received the prestigious Prime Minister’s Award at the Kokeshi Doll Exhibition, and his works have been exhibited internationally, including in Germany.
The mushroom-shape wooden forms are smooth and bulbous, mimicking the shape of a mushroom cap or forest seed. Each piece is decorated with simple, heat-etched (pyrography) facial features and stick-figure-style limbs directly on the natural wood surface.
Condition: good vintage condition - a smal nick on the small kokeshi and a riss (not crack) on the larger one (please see images for details). Artist's stamp at the bottom.
Size: ca. 6 cm and 4,5 cm
Please note that all items in my shop are vintage and may show signs of age, including scratches, tarnishing, and other imperfections that add to their character. Please refer to the photos for a detailed view of each item's condition. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out before purchasing. All images are of the actual product. However, please be aware that colors may appear slightly different on screen due to display settings.
