Artisan | Woodworker: Kikuchi, Shukou | 1950

Origin: No Biography

Historically, the Japanese have been a very modest people. Japanese artists, in particular, felt their work spoke for them, and so for centuries, creative efforts by many artists, with the exception of woodblock prints, were unsigned, yet were easily recognized by the public through a specific style and the artists’ unique personalities. As collectors we felt it was most important to represent all Traditional and Sosaku Kokeshi, whether or not the artist has been identified, their seal, or artistic signature translated, or a written account of this artist’s life. Each show the diversity of this cultural specialization and the creative work produced by this artist.

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

These beautifully detailed and painted Kokeshi depict one of Japan’s many folk heroes, Ohara Shosuke, who lived in Aizu Wakamatsu City in Fukushima Prefecture. He has been immortalized in song as a great lover of sake.

Typically, Shosuke-san is pictured wearing a brown and black striped Yukata and Haori with a small splash of red peeping out of his garment. He is always depicted with a wrapped head of white Tenugui, (plain cloth or rag), with blue polka-dots, and carrying his jug, which is decorated with calligraphy. His face is very simple, with a stern expression.

Artist's signature: