K30027 - Sōsaku Kokeshi by Takahashi Hashime 髙橋はしめ

This Sōsaku Kokeshi by Takahashi Hashime (1918–2002) exemplifies the artist’s refined, lyrical approach to form and surface 

The figure is defined by its elongated, cylindrical body, finished in a soft, weathered vermilion tone that appears gently rubbed into the wood, allowing the grain beneath to subtly emerge. Delicately painted floral motifs—suggestive of seasonal blossoms—float quietly across the surface, their restrained placement reinforcing a sense of calm and balance rather than decoration for its own sake.

Born in 1918, Takahashi Hashime was a distinguished Sōsaku Kokeshi artist active primarily during the mid-to-late Shōwa era. Working from his Hashime Kōbō (はしめ工房) studio, he became known for calm, poetic interpretations of the human figure, characterized by natural wood tones, understated elegance, and refined floral painting. His work reflects traditional Japanese aesthetics such as wabi-sabi—the beauty found in simplicity and imperfection—and shibui, an understated, enduring grace.

As with many of Hashime’s works, this kokeshi feels less like an object and more like a quiet companion: a distilled human presence that embodies serenity, craftsmanship, and the poetic potential of Sōsaku Kokeshi art.

Size: 9 x 9 x 30cm