Japanese Kokeshi Doll - Tsubaki Camellia - 9 cm

Japanese wooden kokeshi doll, 9 cm, hand-painted camellia (tsubaki) design

Take a moment to look closely at the design of this kokeshi. At the heart of the flower, the delicate stamens are painted inside the red petals, on a surface measuring barely a few centimetres. To the right of the open flower, the craftsman has added a bud that is still closed, complete with its stem and leaves, with a level of meticulousness that is very characteristic of Japanese craftsmanship. The red bands and fine green lines are perfectly even because they were painted on the lathe using the rokuro moyō technique. The camellia, meanwhile, has been painted freehand, making each doll a unique piece. In Japan, the tsubaki has adorned floral arrangements for the tea ceremony since the 13th century, and this 9 cm Japanese wooden doll pays a beautiful tribute to it.

Below is a video illustrating the process of making a Kokeshi (the model shown in the video is not the same as the one on sale).