This beautiful kokeshi wears a red kimono with red camellias. The core, where the heart of the flower is said to reside, is pure white. It’s clear that Okamoto Usaburō (岡本 卯三郎) loved camellias (they were his favourite flowers and he was both the founder of Osaburō Kokeshi and the artisan who created this beauty).
Her name is Sōshun (早春) which means early spring. This is the time of year we see the first flowers popping up, among which the beautiful camellia, the first colours of the year as the plant flowers in late winter and early spring.
The camellia, camellia japonica, tsubaki (椿) in Japanese, is a flower species that hails from Asia. It belongs to the family of tea plants and is cultivated extensively in many regions of Japan. With its sweet nectar scent and brightly coloured petals it has become an important symbol of the country and it is a deeply meaningful flower in Japanese culture. The flower signifies love and admiration, and not in the least divine beauty. It is often associated with longevity and ever-green loyalty (this is linked to the plant’s foliage). In history, it was associated with noble deaths and/or bravery for the samurai.
The red camellia, specifically, symbolises passion, deep love and the strength to face adversity with courage and grace according to the Hanakotoba (花言葉), the Japanese language of the flowers.
The most prominent meaning of a red camellia is intense passion, deep love, and desire. When it frames a white heart, it physically illustrates the popular floriography phrase: “You are a flame in my heart” or “You hold the flame to my soul.” The fiery red outer layer represents the passion projecting outward, while the pure white centre represents the cherished, steady core of that devotion.
The camellia pattern is a revered motif in Japan and is widely used in textiles for mainly kimono. You’ll find especially the red Camilla often in Japanese art, like the kokeshi dolls and pottery (eg Kutani ware).
She comes in two sizes: S & L, this is the small one.
Specifications:
Height: 19 centimetres
Weight: 280 grams
Materials:
Head: Mizuki (Giant dogwood)
Face: Mizuki (Giant dogwood)
Body: Chestnut