Vintage Daruma Kokeshi by Miyashita Hajime, 1980s, Japan

Vintage Daruma kokeshi by Miyashita Hajime (宮下はじめ), dating from the late 1970s–1980s, Shōwa period, Japan.

This wooden sōsaku kokeshi depicts Daruma, the Japanese name for Bodhidharma, the Buddhist monk traditionally associated with the origins of Zen Buddhism. The figure is instantly recognisable by its powerful gaze, heavy black eyebrows and finely painted beard.

Dimensions: height 19.5 cm, diameter 10 cm.

The natural colour of the wood is combined with a striking red-lacquered robe, while the face is detailed with fine brushwork and subtle touches of colour. The simple rounded form gives the figure a strong, almost graphic appearance.

In Japan, Daruma is a well-known symbol of perseverance, good fortune and the achievement of personal goals. Its resilient form is associated with the Japanese saying “fall down seven times, stand up eight.”

The original label on the underside bears the name of Miyashita Hajime and states that he was a winner of the Prime Minister’s Award, an honour he received in 1977.