This sōsaku shingata kokeshi was made by Taikichi (太吉), an artist associated with the postwar shingata (new-form) kokeshi movement, which reinterpreted traditional kokeshi aesthetics through more expressive and individualized designs.
The doll features a slender, elongated body finished in a vivid beni-red ground, encircled by finely painted black horizontal bands—a rhythmic pattern that recalls traditional textile motifs while emphasizing vertical elegance.
The plum blossom motif endered here in subtle, rounded floral forms accented against the red-and-black striped ground—symbolizes resilience, renewal, and quiet strength, as plum blossoms are among the first flowers to bloom in late winter. This choice of motif harmonizes beautifully with the restrained expression of the figure, reinforcing the sense of calm endurance and poetic simplicity characteristic of Taikichi (太吉)’s shingata style.
Taikichi (太吉) is known as a maker of sōsaku shingata kokeshi, working within the postwar creative kokeshi movement that emphasized personal expression while retaining echoes of traditional forms.
