Vintage Japanese Creative Kokeshi Doll - Japan, 1970s

A charming mid-century kokeshi with hand-painted details and a mix of natural wood textures. The rounded head has a calm, almost meditative expression, while the body combines smooth turned wood with a darker bark-wrapped middle section for contrast.

The painted scenes are what give this piece its character: Mount Fuji brushed in white on the upper section, and a small countryside landscape on the base - bright foliage, a red thatched house, and black silhouetted trees. Everything feels handmade and slightly improvised in the best way.

This is a creative kokeshi rather than a traditional lineage-made piece, likely produced in the 1970s–80s when souvenir kokeshis became popular gifts across Japan. The calligraphy beside Fuji reads “yama no kumo wa” - the clouds of the mountain - a short nature verse rather than an artist’s signature. These pieces were often made in small workshops around Tōhoku and the Kanto region, blending folk influence with painterly decoration.

A lovely decorative object with a gentle mood. We love how it brings a bit of old-school Japanese charm to a shelf or side table - warm wood, soft colours, and a quiet face that somehow makes a room feel calmer. Also a nice small collectible if you’re drawn to mid-century folk art.

✦ Height 19 cm
✦ Painted wood, bark-wrapped middle section
✦ Maker: Unknown artisan
✦ Period: 1970s–1980s
✦ Made in Japan
✦ Very good vintage condition with light wear consistent with age

ABOUT CREATIVE KOKESHI DOLLS
Creative (or sōsaku) kokeshi emerged in mid-century Japan, made by independent artisans who weren’t tied to the strict traditions of regional kokeshi families. These dolls often featured freer shapes, painted landscapes, poems, and experimental details. They were popular souvenirs in the 1950s–70s and are now appreciated as small pieces of Japanese folk art.