Vintage kokeshi by takamizawa kazuo / 22 cm

Vintage kokeshi called "kanoko" (traditional shibori pattern) made by takamizawa kazuo. Shibori is a kind of japanese tie & dye obtained using meticulous “knotting” techniques of the fabric. It has some marks related to time (see photos). Born in 1927, takamizawa-san works in the city of maebashi, in gunma prefecture, considered the center of modern creative kokeshi doll manufacturing. He has won many awards including the prime minister's award. His dolls from the early 1950s-60s were left without decoration, except for minimalist pyrography (camellia flowers on enju wood...), on most of his dolls, the hair decoration is carved and dyed. And some of his creations can be delicately decorated using black pigments or white flowers painted thickly floating on the body (adding relief to the piece). He began creating more colorful and brightly decorated dolls in the 1970s.