Artisan | Woodworker: Aoki, Chikako

Biographical History:

As collectors, we felt it was most important to represent all Sosaku Kokeshi artists, whether or not each artist has a written account of his/her life. We show the diversity of cultural values and the creative work produced by a multitude of artists. As a valued customer, and Kokeshi collector noted, “Kokeshi collecting is a personal journey in this everlasting realm of Japanese esthetics”.  DF

In researching old writings through articles and books that still remain, it is evident that the Kokeshi Craftsperson not only created beautiful forms as toys, but also kept alive cultural values, customs, and fashion through the extensive representations of Kokeshi dolls. The beauty is in the doll and not the signatures, for most masters never signed their dolls. Later they named the dolls, but only when Westerners insisted on signatures because they did not know the artists, so the carvers began to sign their works, for the carvers wanted to promote sales to make a living, during the seasons that did not provide an environment to continue their otherwise daily work.

Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:

A rare, “one-off” creation from a virtually unknown and unpublished craftsperson. What is interesting is the unusual turning and surface ornamentation of this form. This 8-0” high figure of a young girl is wearing a “mino”, (snow coat), that is covered with a floral textural motif on the surface and unusual lacquer work defining the coat and undergarment, which is simply striped in red and green with the natural wood background. Only her face and expressive eyes are peeping out of her winter clothing. She is signed on the bottom but done in an artistic manner, only allowing the translation of the artist/maker’s name. We have never seen any other pieces by this artist and believe that his artwork focuses on other media.