Rare Vintage creative kokeshi by Takanashi Hanpuushi

This elegant vintage creative (Sosaku) Kokeshi doll, crafted by the renowned artisan Takanashi Hanpuushi (also known as Takanashi Hanpūshi), features a remarkably slender, elongated silhouette. The doll is distinguished by its minimalist, bob-style black hairstyle topped with a distinct spherical bun, giving it a modern yet traditional Japanese aesthetic . Its serene, hand-painted facial features consist of simple, closed downcast eyes that convey a sense of calm and introspection. the slender cylindrical body is adorned with intricate, closely spaced lathe-turned brown rings (rokuro-biki), which contrast beautifully with a natural wood band decorated with delicate, pyrography-etched (burnt) plum blossoms (ume). Perched on a notably long, thin neck, this piece perfectly encapsulates Hanpuushi's signature style of blending striking architectural proportions with delicate, traditional craftsmanship.

Hanpushi Takanashi (高梨 半風子) was a Japanese sosaku-kokeshi (creative kokeshi) artist whose career flourished in the mid-20th century, most notably during the 1960s and 1970s. While concrete details about his personal life, including his birth and death dates, remain largely unknown, the lasting appeal of his work and its recognition among collectors underscore his meaningful contribution to the development of creative kokeshi.

Takanashi’s creative output was limited in number, and he appears to have been active for only a relatively brief period before disappearing from the craft scene.

Height: 24cm

Weight: 110g

Please always take a close look to the pictures to determine the condition of the kokeshi. I think there is a dot missing.