Two traditional kokeshi dolls made by Japanese artisans. Kokeshi 1 Body Color: white Height: Approximately 18 cm Signed by 高橋金三（花巻金三）Kinzō Takahashi, Heisei 11 (1999), Kokeshi 2 Body Color: Beige Height: Approximately 18.2 cm Signed by 間宮正男 Masao Mamiya In excellent condition. Provenance: Traditional Kokeshi Specialty Store (Japan/Miyagi Prefecture) About the Author ●"南部" 高橋金三 Kinzō Takahashi(1923-2002) Style: Nanbu Master: Goro Takahashi [Profile] Born on August 10, Taisho 12, as the eldest son of Goro Takahashi, a woodturner in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. He had a younger brother named Kinshiro. His father, Goro, was originally a craftsman specializing in umbrella-making lathes, particularly the Yatame-style, but later studied the Ashikawa-style the most advanced technique at the time in Shizuoka. After the war, Goro also began making kokeshi. Kinzō learned woodturning from his father, Goro, and began making kokeshi in Showa 28; however, at that time, they were of a modern style. In the summer of Showa 33, he had the opportunity to meet Makoto Sato, who had come to Hanamaki, and upon Sato’s encouragement to create traditional kokeshi, he gradually began making them. Makoto Sato had been crafting the Fujii Umeji-style kokeshi using lead, but he passed away in Showa 45, and the Umeji style was lost. Regretting the loss of this style and encouraged by Sumitaro Sumi, Kinzo Takahashi obtained permission from Umeji’s family and began restoring the Umeji style in February Showa 47. Initially, his work closely resembled the Umeji style restored by Makoto Sato, but by Showa 48, he began producing restorations based on Umeji’s antique pieces one after another, which brought him widespread attention. He passed away on October 29, Heisei 14, at the age of 80. ●"津軽" 間宮正男 Masao Mamiya (1921–2008) Style: Tsugaru Master: Akitaro Mamiya [Profile] Born on March 10, Taisho 10, as the eldest son of Akitaro Mamiya, a woodturner in Owani, Aomori Prefecture. After graduating from higher elementary school in Shōwa 10, he began his apprenticeship in woodturning under his father, Akitarō. He turned wooden toys such as zuguri, jōba hammers, ladles, and kokeshi dolls. Around Shōwa 16, demand for military supplies increased, and he almost stopped making toys. After the war, he opened a confectionery shop but continued to turn wood on the side. Around Shōwa 22, he began making kokeshi dolls to some extent. In Showa 24, he went to Odate, Akita Prefecture, to work as a craftsman at a woodworking shop, where he primarily turned flower vases and other items made from cedar. In Showa 26, he returned to Owani and resumed woodturning there alongside his father, Meitaro. He also made kokeshi on commission. During this period, Masao handled almost all the painting of the kokeshi; it appears he painted those commissioned by Meitaro in Meitaro’s style and those commissioned by himself in his own style. In Showa 33, he also opened a toy store. His father, Meitaro, suffered a stroke around Showa 40, after which Masao took over the production entirely. He turned the wood blanks at workshops such as Shimazu Woodworking. Around Showa 59, Yoshiyuki Igarashi from Tsuruoka came to learn how to paint kokeshi, so Masao taught him the techniques. He passed away on June 8, Heisei 20, at the age of 88. Reference image / Source: Kokeshi Wiki