Antique Kokeshi 18"h Doll Signed by Watanabe Maseo (1917-2007)

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This is a fantastic antique kokeshi doll that is 18"H, signed on the bottom with the artists name, Watanabe Maseo … Read more This is a fantastic antique kokeshi doll that is 18"H, signed on the bottom with the artists name, Watanabe Maseo ( 1917-2007). Kokeshi dolls originated in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan and were initially made as toys for children and sold as souvenirs to visitors of hot springs.
They are characterized by a simple trunk and a head, with no arms or legs, and hand-painted features.
The dolls are made from wood, often using a lathe to shape the body and head.
Traditional styles use limited colors, but modern and colorful forms like this one have emerged since World War II.
There are 12 different styles of Kokeshi dolls, each hailing from a specific hot spring town or area and differentiated by shape and decoration.In Japan these dolls symbolize love, friendship and believed to be a lucky charm. See less