

Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi
Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled “Kantsubaki | Camellia Girl” by Takamizawa, Kazuo (1927-)
Takamizawa, Kazuo
Age:1960s
Descriptive qualities& condition:
Dimensions: 6-3/4”h
This lovely doll is the largest in this series and celebrates the Winter Camellia while retaining the wonderful character of the Enju wood. The hair decoration, topped with a bold ‘Mage’, complements the long, incised Bangs, (‘Bob’) treatment. The face has simple eye details with a small red nose. The figure is carved and burned, with the Camellias delicately highlighted in black pigment. The doll is unsigned.
Condition: Excellent meaning that the piece retains its original craft/workmanship showing a wonderful-developed patina commensurate which suggests a degree of wear that corresponds to its vintage. It is void of damage, cracks, breakage, or repairs and meets all the standards of the collectible Sosaku Kokeshi.
Artisan | Woodworker: Takamizawa, Kazuo | 1927
Origin:
Takamizawa-san lives in Maebashi City, in Gunma Prefecture, considered the center of modern Creative Kokeshi doll making. He is a multiple award winner, including the Prime Minister’s Award.
As collectors we felt it was most important to represent all Sosaku Kokeshi artists, whether or not the artist has a written account of his or her life. Each show the diversity of this cultural specialization and the creative work produced by this artist.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
His early 1950-60 dolls were left undecorated except for minimal wood burning and incising of camellia blossoms on Enju wood. With most of his dolls, the hair decoration is carved and stained, adding a classic black hair treatment with a ‘bob’, (Mage), as a separate piece. His designs can be delicately rendered in black pigment or thickly painted white blossoms floating on the body, adding dimension to a piece. He began creating more colorful, brightly decorated dolls in the 1970’s.