This elegant Zao-style kokeshi by Shinya Abe is a beautiful example of the soft, flowing aesthetic that characterizes the Atsumi lineage. Standing 24cm tall, this doll features a rounded head with large, expressive eyes and finely detailed hair painted in bold black with red accents. Her gentle, almost whimsical smile gives her a warm, welcoming presence.
The body is softly curved and delicately painted with a cascading vertical arrangement of red and green stylized flowers, climbing upward in rhythmic balance. The artwork is both graceful and playful, reflecting the rustic yet refined charm typical of the Zao strain of kokeshi. The doll stands on a wide base with subtle lathe-turned lines, lending her form a grounded elegance.
Shinya Abe was born on January 2, 1937, in Atsumi Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture, into a family of traditional woodworkers. His father, Abe Tsuneyoshi, and grandfather, Tsunematsu, were both influential craftsmen of the Atsumi style of kokeshi. Shinya’s work reflects a blend of traditional Atsumi influences and his own gentle artistic sensibility.
