Kokeshi are ornate, handmade dolls. Dumbbells are handheld weights made for lifting. The two don’t have much in common other than their shape — sort of.

Perhaps that resemblance inspired the Kokeshi Dumbbell こけしアレー by Gendaibujitsu Nitouhey (現代美術二等兵).

It’s a pretty clever way to decorate a dumbbell. Forged from iron, the Kokeshi Dumbbell adds some traditional Japanese craftwork to weight training equipment and makes for an fun decorative piece.

The dumbbells come in 2 and 3-kilogram weights and cost 7350 yen (approx $72 USD) and 8400 yen (approx $82 USD), respectively. It’s pretty fun art, though out of context it may seem like just a weight with a face painted on it.

Kokeshi artists traditionally sign the bottom of their creations and likewise the designer’s name is printed on the bottom (opposite the face).

You can be proud (と自慢しちゃいましょう★)

Kokeshi Dumbbell product page

via Gizmodo Japan