Exclusive vintage Sosaku kokeshi by Aoki Ryoka (1931-)

This is a striking creative kokeshi doll by the celebrated Japanese artisan Aoki Ryoka (青木 寥華). The doll showcases a more sculptural and dramatic style compared to her lighter pieces. It features a two-part body with a distinct “kimono” silhouette, created by the carefully turned waist and rounded lower section. Key Features: • Head and Hairstyle: The doll has a serene, softly smiling face with delicate arched eyebrows, closed slit eyes, and a tiny red mouth. Her hair is painted in a deep, glossy black and styled in a classic marumage (round bun) updo, a traditional married woman’s hairstyle. The topknot is smoothly rounded and highly polished, giving it a beautiful contrast against the lighter wood of the face. • Body and Painting: The body is finished in warm, earthy tones that graduate from light beige at the top to a rich, dark brown at the bottom. A vertical slit in the upper body suggests the overlapping front of a kimono. The most distinctive feature is the elegant hand-painted motif of falling leaves or branches in dark brown and black, accented with shimmering gold and silver flecks (likely mica or metallic powder). These delicate, graceful leaves cascade down the body, creating a sense of movement and evoking the quiet beauty of autumn foliage. The painting has a sophisticated, almost poetic quality typical of Aoki Ryoka’s refined aesthetic. • Overall Impression: This piece beautifully blends traditional kokeshi form with modern artistic expression. The contrast between the polished black hair, the soft facial features, and the dark, shimmering botanical design gives the doll a mature, elegant, and slightly melancholic atmosphere — very characteristic of Aoki Ryoka’s more sophisticated creative works. Height: 43cm Weight: 1360g Please look carefully at the pictures to determine the condition of the kokeshi. She as a dent at the eyebrow and some scratches in the hair.