*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.

This listing is for a charming kokeshi doll dated May 22 Showa 63 (1988) by a member of the Usaburo Kokeshi workshop in Gunma.  It is made of wood and the front is decorated with red and white ume blossoms.  She has bobbed hair and this type of kokeshi is the sosaku type, which means modern.  The writing on the doll includes the date and explains that this was a memorial gift.  The signature of the craftsperson can be found near the base, and the seal on the bottom says ‘Usaburo’. 

The Usaburo Kokeshi workshop was established in 1950 by Okamoto Usaburo (1917-2009).  Okamoto spent his early years working with artificial stone and metal, but switched to making kokeshi at 33 years old.  In 1979 he developed a system for mass-producing kokeshi with the help of machines, thus the Usaburo studio became one of the biggest producers of kokeshi in Japan. The Showa Emperor visited the workshop and purchased Okamoto’s masterpiece named “Camellia in Winter”.  Today around 15,000 kokeshi are produced each month using high-quality wood from within Gunma.  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.

Size

H.17.6cm (6.9”) x Dia.6.8cm (2.6”)

Condition

It’s in very good condition with only very light surface wear.

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Asia:  Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-21 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico:  EMS Express 10-15 days.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.