This listing is for a vintage Japanese kokeshi doll.  These are traditional wooden dolls dating back to the late Edo period (early 1800s). Originally made as toys and souvenirs for visitors, they symbolize protection and good luck but have also become valued souvenirs representing visited temples and villages. 

This charming pair of miniature kokeshi are designed in the playful style of wooden spinning tops, each with a rounded head, bright expression, and a painted base decorated with floral motifs. One wears cheerful red with dotted accents, the other a cool blue with white blossoms, both tied with traditional braided cords that add texture. 

Their compact size and sculpted bases make them a whimsical display on a shelf or tray. The bottoms retain their original maker labels, showing they were crafted by a traditional workshop. The heads also bobble!

1.5" x 1.25" x 1.5" - Extra Small Size

Kokeshi are often a simple cylindrical body, a round head that sometimes bobbles and a painted face or carved patterns with a serene expression. There are two styles - traditional (dento) and creative (shingata) which emerged after WWII to show more freedom in design, color, and themes. Click here to learn more about this wonderful Japanese folk art.