Masao Watanabe Vintage Kokeshi Doll – Late Autumn (38.5cm / 15.1 inches)

Creative vintage kokeshi by Watanabe Masao (1917-2007). Her title is 晩春 (Banshun) which means “Laet Autumn”. Her head is wrapped with a clothes that has gray leaves. Her body is decorated in tones of black, red and yellow as well as a birikana carving around the bottom half which gives her a unique texture.

Watanabe Masao was born in Fukushima prefecture and originally trained as a traditional kokeshi master before switching to creative kokeshi. He won the prestigious prime minster award and his dolls were also given to the Beatles in 1965. He’s one of the few artisans whose work is permanently exhibited at the Nuremberg Toy Museum in Germany.

In good condition with visible marks of age and use. Please inspect all images.

Height: 38.5cm / 15.1 inches