Vintage sōsaku ('creative') kokeshi doll.
Carved from a single piece of seasoned wood, this doll exemplifies the sōsaku tradition, which emerged in mid-20th-century Japan as an artistic departure from the standardized forms of traditional kokeshi. Unlike their folk counterparts—typically produced in specific regional styles—sōsaku kokeshi are the expressive works of individual artists, often signed, and intended as decorative or contemplative objects rather than children’s toys. The figure’s minimalist form is offset by hand-painted features that convey a quiet introspection, characteristic of postwar aesthetics. The smooth, lathe-turned silhouette and the subtle play of natural wood grain speak to both modernist sensibilities and enduring Japanese reverence for organic materials.
Maker’s mark inscribed at the base: Sanpei, a notable figure in the development of contemporary kokeshi.