A vintage Sakunami Kokeshi by Japanese artisan Masayoshi Abe (阿部正義) from Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
This traditional wooden doll features a large, rounded head with delicate hand-painted facial features, gently smiling eyes, and distinctive black hair decorated with red accents.
Its slender cylindrical body is adorned with elegant red floral motifs and fine horizontal stripes in red and black. The distinctive narrow waist and rounded base create a beautifully balanced silhouette, reflecting the refined woodturning craftsmanship of the Sakunami tradition.
Masayoshi Abe born on November 22, 1939, in Yamagata Prefecture, Masayoshi Abe originally carried the surname Abiko (安孫子).
In 1955, he began his woodturning apprenticeship under Seijiro Kobayashi (小林清次郎) in Yamagata City, initially specialising in preparing wooden bodies for traditional kokeshi.
Around 1968, he began painting his own kokeshi dolls. In 1971, he joined the Abe family through adoption and changed his surname to Abe.
He established his independent workshop in 1977, continuing the traditional techniques and artistic heritage of the Sakunami kokeshi lineage.
Size: 7 x 7 x 24cm
