Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Kantsubaki | Camellia Girl” by Takamizawa, Kazuo (1927-)
We are not accepting orders from December 8 - Jan 1, 2025. Sorry for the inconvenience. We will resume sales on Jan 1st.
Dimensions: 14-7/8”h
Takamizawa-san is one of the Kokeshi artists referred to as a Kokeshi-koji, a craftsperson who creates dolls from beginning to end, for Kokeshi collectors are drawn to the aesthetic beauty and simplicity of form by these spirit-infused, lathe-turned dolls. This doll celebrates two elements that Takamizawa-san loved: the celebration of natural wood, and the Winter Camellia. The doll retains the wonderful character and patterning of the Enju wood, which in this case, the wood's natural highlight is kept as an integral decorative element. The hairstyle is a classic black hair treatment with a ‘Mage’, as a separate piece, which complements the long bangs and ‘Bob’ treatment framing the face, with its red nose. The entire figure details are executed with a woodturning technique which is the free-hand art of decorating with burn marks, to give a visual and textural quality to the surface. This doll has Takamizawa-san's red, impressed personal stamp, which he affixes on his Kokeshi, and which was originally sold in the ryokans’ spas. The piece is published in Sosaku Kokeshi: Celebrating the Major Artists of the Creative Movement in 2022 on page 158. For more information on this artist go to the following link: https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-takamizawa-kazuo-1927.
Condition: Excellent meaning that the piece retains its original craft/workmanship showing a wonderfully developed patina commensurate which suggests a degree of wear that corresponds to its vintage. The doll is void of damage, cracks, breakage, or repairs. This doll meets all the standards of the collectible Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi by Takamizawa, Kazuo.
Return Policy
Our antique/vintage pieces are identified/described and professionally photographed, and considered, “as is”, therefore all sales are final. Read our full refund and return policy.
Artisan | Woodworker: Takamizawa, Kazuo | 1927
Biographical History:
Takamizawa-san began making Sosaku Kokeshi in 1948 having lived in Takasaki City, in Gunma Prefecture, and opened his studio considered the center of modern Creative Kokeshi doll making. There is no further information on Kazuo but as historians and 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 shows the diversity of this cultural specialization and the creative work produced by this artist. Since 1971, his dolls have received numerous awards including the Prime Minister’s Prize when a doll named Akane, (included in the images of his works) was recognized for his accomplishment. In 1983, Kazoo was elected a representative of the Gunma Kokeshi Artistic Hall of Fame.
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, (Pagoda tree) which he dearly loved because of the wood graining giving dimension to his dolls as well as a rich, deep color. He began creating more colorful, brightly decorated dolls in the 1970’s. As with most of his dolls, the hair adds further detail through the lathe-turned form, carved and stained. Additionally, on several dolls that were short and tall, he added 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 a beautiful seasonal effect to the body.