Artisan | Woodworker: Fukushima, Hiroe

Biographical History:

Other than about a dozen dolls attributed to this carver, there is little biographical data on Fujushima-san, but as researchers and collectors, we felt it was most important to represent all Sosaku Kokeshi artists, particularly a female since most woodworkers were men, and whether or not the artist has a written account of his or her life. Each shows the diversity of this cultural specialization and the creative work produced by this artist.

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

As with this doll, the majority of his creations appear in a traditional cylindrical form of the Kokeshi. The difference is that Hiroe adds numerous three-dimensional elements to express the feeling he is trying to emphasize such as the wind blowing through her hair. Her work is very painterly in beautiful colors and employs flowers, water, bubbles, and sea life on the base of the Kinmono. He enjoys lighter woods such as cherry (sakura) to give a light background color to facilitate his painted talents. Each face of his dolls shows expressions of young girls of fashion and contemporary attitude.