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 Originally made as toys and souvenirs for visitors, they symbolize protection and good luck but have also become valued souvenirs representing visited temples and villages.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 unique vintage set features three tall, slender kokeshi figures each carved from warm-toned wood and mounted on a shared oval base. Their expressive painted faces include a bearded elder, a cheerful youth, and a stern sage - an unusual trio that invite you to create their story.

Bold calligraphy decorates the bodies, reading "compassion or chivalry", "affection", and "happiness embraced" - so the piece is also a symbolic display of good virtues. The elongated teardrop heads and rustic carving style add to their folk-art charm.

3" x 4.5" x 1" - 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.