K25121 - Naruko Kokeshi by Katakura Tomio 片倉富夫

This is a Naruko-style Kokeshi by Katakura Tomio (片倉富夫, 1936–2019), a dedicated artisan whose work reflects the postwar evolution of the Naruko tradition. The doll features a classic Naruko silhouette, with a rounded head and flared body. Its expression is gentle and cheerful, with fine brushwork detailing the characteristic arched eyebrows and smiling eyes. The head is framed by bold red floral hair motifs, while the body is adorned with large, stylized chrysanthemum blossoms in vivid red and green—an iconic design within Naruko kokeshi, symbolizing seasonal beauty and vitality. Katakura Tomio was born into a family of industrialists in Naruko but turned to craftsmanship in his youth. After training under Onuma Chikara at age 17, he initially set aside kokeshi-making but returned to it in 1972. Though apprenticed in the Riemon line, Katakura developed his own interpretation of the "common style" Naruko, favoring simplified, symmetrical floral patterns and softer expressions that appealed to postwar sensibilities. His legacy lives on in pieces like this—an elegant example of mid-20th-century Naruko kokeshi that bridges tradition and modern appeal. Size: 7 x 7 x 24cm#K25121#TradKYO#NarukoKYO· · ──── ✨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.