Nanbu, old domain name of Iwate Prefecture, is the place where these dolls are made. The Nanbu dolls have developed from baby's dummy, and were used to pacify children. As nature of dummy, they originally had no painting decoration. Of course, we can find the traditional Nanbu Kokeshi without any colors. However some current Nanbu Kokeshi may have simple face, otherwise simple flowers or stripes pattern on their bodies. At present, they are much like dolls rather than dummies, but they all still have swaying heads.
Sasaki Youkichi (1878 - 1913)
This Kokeshi is the type of Nanbu group,
which was made in around 1910.
