"O sage | Pigtails"
Dimensions: 13-1/2" h
This is a rare, early doll, wonderfully expressive which celebrates youth and depicting a girl with pigtails. Her Kimono has an overall motif in red, grey and black representing the sunset. Ishihara’s “pigtail” series began early in his Sosaku career when he did a series of Kokeshi with this theme, all published in a small out of print exhibition catalog, (1960s), and published by the Japan Society of New York in cooperation wit JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organization. The piece is unsigned and was created prior to Ishihara becoming established as a Sosaku artist.
Vintage Condition: Good considering its age and rarity, “as is” with the body showing surface wear and slight discoloration, two splits in the wood, (see images with this listing), with no structural damage shown. The piece was gently repaired because of its rarity and interest in preserving a notable creation, and retains the original craft/workmanship. If you are a collector of Ishihara you will be interested in this piece, from the beginning of his Sosaku production, to round out a collection of his unique dolls.
Artisan
Woodworker: Ishihara, Hideo
1925 - 1999
Biographical History:
Hideo graduated from Tohoku University with a degree in science. His grandfather was Iwataro Onuma, the Kokeshi artist credited with originating Naruto Kokeshi, perhaps the most famous style or strain of traditional Kokeshi types. Upon recovering from his illness, he moved to Sendai and began making Sosaku Kokeshi, and in ten years (1959-1969). During his medical treatment, he studied painting under Genichiro Inokuma. He lost interest in the traditional Kokeshi forms for he felt they were stagnating by family standards, and became an avid proponent of Sosaku Kokeshi allowing him the artistic freedom to experiment with various designs and forms. In 1964, he organized the Poetic Craft Exhibition and received more than sixty awards, including the highest honor, the Prime Minister’s Award. He was introduced to the twenty-three countries in Europe and America by NHK. He has sponsored 30 exhibitions in Japan including those at Matsuzakaya Nagoya and Ginza, and four exhibitions in overseas countries. He was one of the founders of the NKAHA, (Nippon Kokeshi Artistic Handicraft Association).
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Ishihara-san’s dolls are based on many motifs found in nature and textile design. He loves portraying both young and old characters with differing hairstyles, (traditional and 1950s era). He illustrates numerous kimono styles in both painted form and carving and utilizes simple graphic treatment to emphasize the strong character of his dolls, which bring out the true nature of the wood materials through manipulation of the turned and carved wood. His dolls are always finished in a simple wax coating. It is also not unusual to see Hideo utilize sumi-e’ drawing of faces that have both the ‘one-stroke eye treatments, (Hitofude-me), as well as a variation of expressive renditions.
Explore & Learn More about Woodworker: Ishihara, Hideo