Hand crafted mid-century kokeshi of family figure, made in Nara, Japan, as a regional omiyage (souvenir) from the 1960s. It reflects the era’s blend of modern minimalist design with traditional Japanese symbolism.
The figurine depicts a family of three, each carved in a sleek, abstract form typical of 1960s modernist design. The heads are elongated ovals with finely painted hairlines and simple facial features: narrow eyes and small red mouths, hallmarks of the sōsaku kokeshi movement that emerged in the mid-20th century. The bodies are smooth and black, evoking the look of formal kimono or montsuki robes which has a painted rectangular patch on the chest.
The minimalist aesthetic and hand-painted details align with the 1960s Japanese souvenir trends, where artisans fused folk art with contemporary design to appeal to both domestic and international tourists.
