This set of 2 vintage Kokeshi made by famous artist Kiyohara, Takao (1916) is a very special find, coming from a retired Japanese collector who lives in Nara. Made in 1965, these dolls must be some of the first Kokeshi Takao-san made in a more creative style. On the bottom, you'll see not only the artist signature and stamp, but also the date the dolls were made, which translates into 25 April 1965. The minimalist decoration on the perfectly balanced shapes show what a great pieces of Japanese craftsmanship these kokeshi are. They are extremely rare, and in very good shape, considering the fact that they are exactly 59 years old. Only the larger doll has a scratch on the backside. The paint has faded a bit at some spots, but it adds character. Artist info: Kiyohara-san is one of the most popular and prolific of the creative Kokeshi artists and began creating dolls after serving as a pilot in the Japanese/American war. He was considered a transitional artist, due to the fact that many of his dolls resemble traditional Tougatta or Yamagata dolls. His dolls are artistically and minimally decorated. He was awarded the Minister’s Prize four times along with the Enterprise Agency top prize on two occasions. Dimensions: Large: 15,5 x 3,5 x 3,5 cm. Small: 11 x 3 x 3 cm. Shipping fast and insured from NL. No hidden import duties for EU.