Rare Vintage Kokeshi by Sadao Kishi

This rare vintage kokeshi by Sadao Kishi is 54cm.  Kishi-san produced hundreds of creative Kokeshi dolls until his passing. During his career, he received numerous awards, winning the Prime Minister’s Award and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award (METI). He is credited with being one of the major influences of the ‘Sosaku Kokeshi Movement, gaining recognition for the dolls as a popular and valid art form.

This amazing kokeshi is in excellent condition with focus on the beautiful woodgrain and very faint leaves randomly etched and subtly coloured and serene one stroke facial detail. A very elegant kokeshi for the collector.

As a kokeshi artist Kishi-san incorporates  subjects related to mothers and children as both form-giving and decoration on the bodies of his kokeshi. All of his creations are beautifully proportioned dolls, found in many sizes, and celebrates nature and its connection to everyday life. An emphasis on simple turned wood gives focus to the subject of his work.