Vintage Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi by Kiyohara Takao (1916-)

With minimal ornamentation, the doll’s wooden body subtly emphasizes the cherry blossom motif, while the blue garment enhances its rounded, bulb-like form. This piece embodies a distinctive hallmark of Kiyohara-san’s work: a traditional head and face featuring expressive eyes and a simplified suggestion of hair, adorned with a red bow that reinforces the theme of femininity. The delicately shaped nose and red lips complete the doll’s gentle expression. A red cord suggests an unlined cotton summer kimono (yukata), typically worn during summer festivals or visits to local bathhouses.

She is titled “Mizumo” what means “Spring”

Kiyohara is regarded as one of the most sought-after creative kokeshi artists, admired for his refined balance between traditional form and modern restraint. Active after serving as a pilot during the Japanese–American war, he is often classified as a transitional artist, as his work closely echoes the aesthetics of traditional Tōgatta and Yamagata kokeshi.

His dolls are characterized by minimalist decoration, expressive yet understated faces, and elegant proportions. Typical features include delicately drawn eyes, a small red nose and mouth, and a simple suggestion of hair, sometimes accented with a red bow. Ornamentation is sparing and seasonal, often limited to cherry or plum blossoms or subtle striped motifs created using the rokuro moyo technique.

Highly regarded during his lifetime, Kiyohara received the Minister’s Prize four times, the Enterprise Agency Top Prize twice, and the MIND Award (Ministry of Industry). Crafted from high-quality wood and finished with traditional rōsoku no rō (candle wax), his kokeshi are prized for their quiet elegance, craftsmanship, and enduring collectability.

Height: 30,5cm

Weight: 670g

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