K25122 - Yamagata Kokeshi by Hiratsuka Yasubei 平塚安兵衛

This is a Yamagata Kokeshi by Hiratsuka Yasubei (平塚安兵衛, 1908–2015)—a rare and poignant work by one of the longest-lived traditional kokeshi artisans in history.  Born in Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture, Hiratsuka Yasubei began his journey in woodcraft in the 1920s. His early career was steeped in the production of everyday wooden goods—tops, buckets, and textile bobbins—before turning to kokeshi-making around 1940 as the weaving industry declined. Despite wartime interruptions and periods of manual labor, he returned fully to kokeshi-making in 1973, producing pieces into his 100s. This doll is a fine example of Yamagata kokeshi, known for their slim, cylindrical bodies and refined minimalism. Yasubei's version features a tranquil face with straight, delicately arched eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, crowned by a bold, black haircap with red radial patterns—hallmarks of his regional style. The body is adorned with stylized plum blossom motifs in soft red, accompanied by minimalist black grass patterns at the shoulder line, typical of Yamagata’s clean and restrained aesthetic. As one of the last artisans to bridge the prewar and postwar generations of kokeshi-making, Hiratsuka Yasubei’s work captures the quiet elegance and resilience of this craft. This particular piece not only reflects regional character but also the lifelong dedication of a centenarian craftsman. Size: 7 x 7 x 24.5cm#K25122#tradKYO#YamagataKYO· · ──── ✨𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚✨ ──── · · 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒 𝑄𝑅 𝑐𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝐾𝑈 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟. 𝑆𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒.