Vintage Japanese creative kokeshi doll made by master Kazuo Takamizawa (1927-).

Vintage Japanese creative kokeshi doll made by master Kazuo Takamizawa (1927-). Takamizawa-san lives in Maebashi City, in Gunma Prefecture, considered the center of modern Creative Kokeshi doll making. He is a multiple award winner, including the Prime Minister’s Award. His early 1950-60 dolls were left undecorated except for minimal wood burning and incising of camellia blossoms on Enju wood. With most of his dolls, the hair decoration is carved and stained, adding a classic black hair treatment with a ‘bob’, (Mage), as a separate piece. His designs can be delicately rendered in black pigment or thickly painted white blossoms floating on the body, adding dimension to a piece. He began creating more colorful, brightly decorated dolls in the 1970’s.