How Kokeshi Are Made

Making process

1. 01

   Selecting the wood

   Species and selection criteria vary. Record the maker or regional source before naming a material.

2. 02

   Drying and preparing

   Wood is prepared before turning; timing and method should be documented for the practice being described.

3. 03

   Turning the form

   A lathe shapes the main volumes. Construction details can differ, including how head and body relate.

4. 04

   Refining the surface

   Cutting, smoothing and surface preparation influence both touch and the way painted lines sit on wood.

5. 05

   Painting face and motifs

   The order, tools and pigments are not universal. Motifs should be attributed to a maker or tradition only with evidence.

6. 06

   Finishing and signing

   Finishing and inscriptions vary. A mark on the base needs careful reading before it becomes a maker attribution.