Vintage Tsuchiyu style kokeshi doll | WATANABE Kihei (1910-1988) | 古品こけし 土湯系 渡辺喜平工人 | 24.5cm in height

This vintage kokeshi was made by Kihei Watanabe (1910-1988) who was a Tuchiyu style kokeshi craftsman. The narrow eyes, simple striped body pattern, dulled wood and paint color give a calm image to the kokeshi doll. Even though it has a big red decoration on the head, it has a classical elegant air. According to the note, the previous owner got this kokeshi secondhand in 1975.

It is a gentle piece for your interior.

Due to age, this doll has dullness.

craftsman : WATANABE Kihei 渡辺喜平
style: Tsuchiyu 土湯系
He was born in Tsuchiyu city of Fukushima prefecture, which is a hot spring area and kokeshi crafting place in Tohoku.
He became an adopted son of Kakuji Watanabe (1877-1922) and Kin (Kakuji’s wife 1881-1941) when he was 12 years old. Kakuji was a woodworker and Tsuchiyu style kokeshi craftsman and Kin was painting kokeshi dolls. Unfortunately, Kakuji passed away next year after he was adopted. Because of that, Kihei couldn’t learn much woodwork directly from Kakuji. When he was 20 years old, he went to Togatta (a kokeshi crafting area) as a woodworker and went somewhere. He resumed making kokeshi dolls from 1916. It has been said that Kihei’s kokeshi facial expression was influenced by Kin’s kokeshi dolls.

Approx. dimensions
- height 高さ : 24.5cm / 9.64inch
- diameter 直径 :
   head 頭 7cm / 2.75inch
   body 胴 2.9cm / 1.14inch
- weight : 244.5g

[Please consider the following]
- Our dolls are painted with water colors, so they can be easily damaged by water. Please use a dry cloth to clean it.
- Our dolls are made of wood, so please avoid exposure to direct sunlight or heat. Humidity may damage the kokeshi. Please avoid excess moisture. (especially direct air from the air conditioner damages to the kokeshi dolls.)

[About shipment ]
We will ship your kokeshi dolls by DHL within 3 business days after your purchase is completed. The estimated time will be 5-10 days. Please double check your registered sending address before completing your order. Every shipment has the tracking number. We will send you the number after shipping your parcel.

[Custom Tariff ]
Every customer is responsible for any customs and taxes when you import items from Japan. Especially, the customers from EU, UK, US and some other countries, sorry this shop doesn’t accept IOSS in those countries. The delivery staff will ask you to pay the tax when they deliver. We are not responsible for delays due to customs.

日本国内へは佐川急便での発送となります。ホームページ右上の言語を「日本語」にご設定いただくと、ご注文ページで配達時間帯をご指定いただけます。

※パソコンやスマートフォンなど、ご覧になられる環境により商品写真の色と実際の色が異なる場合があります。どうぞご了承ください。
※こけしの顔や模様は水性染料で描かれているため、たいへん水に弱いです。色落ちを避けるためにも、お掃除の際は乾いた布で拭いてあげてください。
※こけしは木でできています。急な乾燥や直射日光、暖房器具の近くを避けてお楽しみください。また、あまり湿気の多い場所ですとカビが生えることがありますのでご注意ください。
※梱包には若干、再利用品を使用させていただきます。ご了承ください。