Kokeshi Dolls pricing??

[dlvintage]

Hi everyone!!

Long time listener, first time poster! I have this set of large kokeshi dolls..I’m pretty sure they are a bride and groom. They’re over 13 inches tall..there is some damage but they’re pretty detailed and I haven’t seen anything remotely similar in this size and detail. Idk why but I’m just struggling to set a price on them and wanted some opinions. I usually follow Ryanne’s advice of just putting a high price on stuff and seeing what happens..but for some reason I just wanted some feedback on this one. My gut is telling me to put them up for anywhere between $200 and $400. Thanks in advance!! ~Emma

picture!

https://imgur.com/a/l4Lmofq

[Jay]

I dont know anything about Kokeshi Dolls:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=vintage+Kokeshi+Dolls&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1&_sop=16

But when I do a search for solds, there’s a handful that have sold for between $200-$500, but then the quickly drop down to $20 or less.

Is it the large size that makes them so valuable?

[dlvintage]

That’s what I’m thinking. Most of the $20 ones are like 2-5 inches tall. Also…I’m a seller on etsy and I think these are traditional wedding dolls…you can overcharge a ton for wedding stuff on etsy for whatever reason haha.

[aperture]

I know nothing of these dolls and am grateful for your question to have the opportunity to learn. I searched on worthpoint and the dolls that sell in the $200 range seemed to have very detailed (meticulous) paint and carving. These do not have detailed carving and the paint is casual and impressionistic. This seems like the sort of paint that is applied when an item is manufactured for a mass market. On the other hand, I saw none that look like this, so I am at a loss to suggest a pricing scheme. Best wishes, Daniel

[dlvintage]

Oh, good to have info from worthpoint, thank you!!

Somehow I’ve fallen into the category of Japanese made vintage items…specifically made for the American market in the 1950s and 1960s. Which I love- but sometimes it gets confusing because they tried to “Americanize” things BECAUSE they were selling to the american market…so sometimes that makes it more valuable which is kinda weird? But then in situations like these I almost feel awkward like…it’s not authentically japanese..

Thank you for your input!! I appreciate it..I think I’m gonna price high and see what happens…I’m overthinking it haha.

[Antique Frog]

Hi divintage! Like Jay I’ve never heard of kokeshi dolls, so I did a search and thought “Blimey! I’ve seen those around for a quid or two”. Turns out, as far as I can see, there’s the authentic ones and the junk, with the former seemly distinguished by their concave shape, like yours. According to Wikipedia (but there’s no citation for the statement) since the 1950s many dolls are signed on the base or the “backside” by the maker.

The hat worn by the “man” is interesting. I feel I’ve seen that style of elongated bowler somewhere but I can’t remember. I did think it may be Korean (a Japanese colony till 1945).

[dlvintage]

@ Antique frog- yeah I couldn’t tell if they were korean or japanese but after looking at a million photos I was kinda leaning toward korean! Yeah- I don’t think these are the super special ones done by artists-but I’m thinking they’re cool enough (mostly bc of their size) to get a couple hundred bucks out of them. We shall see!

[PDX_Cyndy]

I wouldn’t say I’m a collector, but I own a few kokeshi dolls. I’d never heard of Korean kokeshi, but that definitely explains the unusual fashions of this pair. I wish I could find more information, in particular if they were produced during the Japanese occupation. They do look older because of their shape and the patina of the wood. If I had found these, I would be keeping them for myself!

[dlvintage]

PDX_Cyndy:

Thanks for the reply! Yes, I wondered these same things. They are a really neat pair! They’re on my dresser currently because I really do love them.

Here’s a link to something similar on etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/505487645/vintage-70s-80s-wooden-korean-bobble?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=wooden%20korean%20doll&ref=sr_gallery-1-13

This example definitely reads very 70s to me…whereas mine I feel look more 50s-60s. They are very similar in design though and if you look into korean kokeshi they all look like this! The ones in the example are only 30 bucks but they are also newer and 6 inches tall. Mine are like 14″ tall and seem to be older. I still haven’t found an exact pair like mine.

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