Exclusive Sosaku kokeshi by Shido Shozan (1932-1995)

This exquisite vintage sosaku (creative) kokeshi doll is a masterpiece by the highly celebrated and award-winning master artisan Shido Shozan (1932–1995). Renowned for fusing traditional Japanese folk art with mid-century modern aesthetics, Shozan beautifully highlights the natural essence of the wood in this exceptionally sleek, minimalist design.

Visual Characteristics & Design

 Sleek Modern Form: The doll features an elegant, elongated silhouette with a tapering body that resembles a stylized, abstract kimono or gown, marked by a simple V-neck indentation at the collar.

 Distinctive Hairstyle & Topknot: The most striking feature is the sculptural, helmet-like bob haircut that dramatically frames the head. It is crowned by a remarkably tall, flared spindle topknot or hairpin structure that adds striking verticality and theatrical grace to the piece.

 Serene Minimalist Face: Tucked beneath the heavy, perfectly contoured wooden bangs is a small, peaceful face. It features incredibly delicate, minimalist brushstrokes portraying closed eyes and a tiny mouth/nose, evoking a deep sense of serenity, modesty, or shyness.

 Natural Wood Grain: Crafted with masterly precision, the doll showcases a rich, warm brown tone with fluid, vertical grain patterns flowing continuously through the hair and body, allowing the organic beauty of the material to serve as its primary ornamentation.

This piece stands as a stunning representation of Shozan's signature style, making it a highly collectible and timeless work of Japanese sculptural art.

Height: 35cm

Weight: 650g

Please always take a close look to the pictures to determine the condition of the kokeshi.