Very old Donko kokeshi from 1955. with the date written at the bottom 1955.3.28. Donko (どんここけし) Kokeshi captures the warmth and creativity of mid-Showa era Japanese folk craft. With its round, full face and cylindrical body, this style of kokeshi is a product of collaborative craftsmanship that flourished around the 1950s in the Sendai and Shibukawa regions. Typically made in group workshops, each Donko doll was crafted through a multi-step process that involved wood splitting, turning, burning, painting, polishing, and final assembly—often with a division of labor among local artisans, particularly women who hand-painted the intricate designs.
This particular example features a charming face with delicate painted features and floral hair decorations. Though many Donko Kokeshi are unsigned, they are occasionally attributed to respected artists such as Watanabe Masao or Sato Norio, blurring the line between traditional folk craft (dentō) and creative expression (sōsaku).
