Sōsaku kokeshi by Kisaku, geometric incised pattern, signed, Shōwa period10.webp

Sōsaku kokeshi by Kisaku, geometric incised pattern, signed, Shōwa period8.webp

Sōsaku kokeshi by Kisaku, geometric incised pattern, signed, Shōwa period7.webp

Sōsaku kokeshi by Kisaku, geometric incised pattern, signed, Shōwa period12.webp

Sōsaku kokeshi by Kisaku, geometric incised pattern, signed, Shōwa period6.webp

Sōsaku kokeshi by Kisaku, geometric incised pattern, signed, Shōwa period9.webp

Sōsaku kokeshi by Kisaku, geometric incised pattern, signed, Shōwa periodSōsaku kokeshi by Kisaku, geometric incised pattern, signed, Shōwa period3.webp

Sōsaku kokeshi by Kisaku, geometric incised pattern, signed, Shōwa period11.webp

Sōsaku kokeshi by Kisaku, geometric incised pattern, signed, Shōwa period5.webp

Sōsaku kokeshi by Kisaku, layered kimono, signed, Shōwa period

Name: Japanese sōsaku kokeshi Kisaku signed layered kimono Showa | KAIKO&CO
Brand: KAIKO&CO
Price: 95.0 EUR
Availability: InStock

€95.00

She stops you because of the detail. The dark outer kimono falls open at the sides to reveal a warmer inner robe, and each layer carries its own incised pattern: broad sleeves with carved surface texture, a lower section in dense relief that reads like heavy woven cloth. The face is minimal, the dark hair close and smooth, and none of it competes with what is happening on the body. She is a figure that rewards a second look and a third.

Kisaku (喜作) was active in the sōsaku tradition through the 1960s and 1970s, and his carved pieces are consistently sought by collectors for the quality and restraint of the cutting. What makes this figure technically demanding is the layering: each area of the kimono is treated differently, the transitions between inner and outer robe carved cleanly without losing the sense of depth. The signature is brushed in ink directly onto the base.

She has a sister: a second Kisaku figure from the same period, rounder in form and decorated with incised ume plum blossoms. Both are available separately.

What makes this creative kokeshi special

The up close look and feel

She wears a layered kimono: a warm inner robe visible at the collar and hem, and a wider outer garment with broad sleeves that fall open at either side. The sleeves and lower section carry incised patterns in the natural wood, each area differently textured, giving the impression of fabric with weight and structure.

The transitions between layers are carved cleanly. The face is two incised marks for eyes, nothing more. In hand she is dense and balanced, the wood smooth where unpainted, the carved areas slightly rough under the finger.

Charming details

Representing layered clothing on a kokeshi is uncommon. The traditional form is a single unbroken cylinder, and most sōsaku makers add decoration to that surface rather than articulating the costume beneath it.

Kisaku carves the kimono as a garment with structure and depth, inner robe and outer layer distinct from each other. That level of specificity in a 17 cm figure takes considerable control of the tool and a clear idea of the finished form before the cutting begins.

- Made by Kisaku (喜作).
- Active through the 1960s and 1970s, recognized by name among international collectors.
- Signed in brushed ink on the base.
- A second Kisaku kokeshi from the same period, with incised ume plum blossom decoration, is listed separately.
- Japan, likely Gunma Prefecture.
- Shōwa period, ca. 1960s to 1970s.
- Height: approx. 17 cm
- Weight: approx. 298 gr
- Good vintage condition.
- Natural patina consistent with age.
- Incised surfaces and painted areas intact.
- No cracks or repairs observed.
- Keep away from direct sunlight and dry heat sources.
- Clean with a soft dry cloth only.
- Water and damp cloths can lift the paint and cause the wood to swell, particularly on older lacquered surfaces.
- If the kokeshi stands near a radiator in winter, move it, as rapid drying causes older wood to crack.