Vintage handcrafted Sōsaku Kokeshi is a delicate and expressive piece celebrating the seasonal beauty of iris flowers (菖蒲, shōbu), a symbol of elegance and protection in Japanese culture. The cylindrical wooden body features vivid hand-painted irises in full bloom, their deep violet petals and tall green leaves rendered with remarkable detail and color harmony.
The doll’s face exudes character and charm, with sharp, arched brows, a red-cheeked expression, and a unique, almost modernist flair to the brushwork. Two turquoise-blue stripes around the torso add balance and vibrancy, while the top of the head is adorned with a subtle green floral pattern, harmonizing with the iris motif below.
Sosaku Kokeshi are known for their artistic individuality, and this doll is a fine example of that creative spirit, merging nature, emotion, and simplicity into a single expressive form. It is a perfect collectible for lovers of Japanese folk art, nature-inspired design, or seasonal symbolism.
