Vintage Dazaifu Japanese Mother & Child Kokeshi Doll

A beautiful vintage Japanese mother-and-child kokeshi, featuring an unusually elegant and narrative composition.

Standing approximately 24 cm / 9.45 in tall, the figure depicts a mother gently holding a small child in her arms.

Unlike the simple cylindrical silhouette associated with many kokeshi, this piece has a remarkably slender, elongated form and carefully constructed figurative details, giving it the presence of a small wooden sculpture.

MOTHER & CHILD

The mother is depicted holding a sleeping child close to her body.

Her restrained facial expression and elongated proportions contrast beautifully with the tiny child, creating a quiet and intimate composition.

The upper section projects outward around the child, almost like a protective embrace, making the relationship between the two figures the central feature of the design.

CRANE MOTIF

The dark wooden body is richly decorated with hand-painted cranes, flowers, foliage, and delicate colored details.

Cranes are a longstanding motif in Japanese art and decorative culture, traditionally associated with longevity and good fortune.

Against the nearly black body, the white cranes and pale blue, green, yellow, and red details create a particularly striking graphic contrast.

DAZAIFU MARK

The wooden base bears the Japanese inscription “大宰府” (Dazaifu).

Dazaifu is a historic place name in Fukuoka, Japan.

The inscription is retained as an important identifying detail of the piece. The exact maker or workshop is currently unknown, so no further attribution has been made.

SCULPTURAL OBJECT

Beyond its identity as a kokeshi, this piece can be appreciated as a small Japanese figurative sculpture.

The exceptionally narrow silhouette, mother-and-child composition, dark painted surface, and detailed crane decoration give it a strong visual presence despite its relatively compact scale.

It works beautifully as a standalone object on a shelf, console, cabinet, or alongside Japanese ceramics, baskets, lacquerware, and other collected objects.

SIZE

Height:
Approx. 24 cm / 9.45 in

Base width:
Approx. 4.5 cm / 1.77 in

Material: Wood
Type: Mother and child kokeshi / wooden figurative object
Marking: 大宰府 (Dazaifu)
Origin: Japan
Period: Vintage

CONDITION

Good vintage condition with no major structural damage.

There are some minor marks, surface wear, discoloration, and other signs of age consistent with a vintage wooden object.

These signs of age do not significantly detract from the overall appearance of the piece.

Please refer carefully to the photographs for the exact condition.

Variations in the wood, painted decoration, surface, and finish are part of the character of this vintage handcrafted object.

This is a one-of-a-kind vintage piece. The photographs show the actual item you will receive.