Vintage Japanese Tougatta Strain Ejiko Container by Sato Masahiro

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Dimensions: 4-1/2”h x 4-0” dia.

This wonderful container first of all has a natural bark on the undulating and stained lower portion of the body. She is beautifully decorated with a delicately designed flower motif on the shoulders. On the top of the head is a red bow and a loop on the head, incorporating a flower petal motif which also frames the face along with split bangs and side fringes. The face has thin narrow eyes sometimes referred to as Futae-mabuta (double lid), a split nose, and a small red mouth. On the bottom of the container is the artist's signature along with further descriptions about the pieces.

Tougatta dolls are thought to be the oldest family members of the Traditional school. They originated in the Tougatta Onsen in the Miyagi Prefecture and were subsequently being produced also at Aone Onsen, and the cities of Sendai, and Izumi. The Tougatta style is easily found by collectors in an interesting range of variations.

There is no other biographical information published on the artist other than he was born in 1938 in the Miyagi prefecture and apprenticed with the Grand Masters Sato, Tetsuro, and Wagatsuma, Kichisuke.

Condition: Excellent and beautiful example and condition. The doll retains the original craft/workmanship and painted decoration showing a wonderfully-developed patina commensurate with age and unrestored. This doll meets all the standards of Traditional Tougatta Ejiko collectibles.