Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: Mugen by Issetsu Kuribayashi

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Dimensions: 14-0”h

Shown is a beautiful and wonderfully crafted Kokeshi abstractly decorated with free-flowing lines in green lacquer with a floral or cloud-like theme. In Buddhist culture, clouds signify the “Western Paradise” beyond earth, while Kiku represents elegance and high status. This doll plays off of the natural color of the wood with a clear coat lacquer finish, with hand-painting to define the face and clothing. The eyes express humility, and the face on this doll has his standard tiny red spot for the lips and suggested hair bows just above the side hair fringes. Shape and balance are important elements of Japanese style and decoration. These carved and complementing shapes are thought to suggest intuition and inspiration. Signed on the bottom by the artist.

Condition: Excellent and wonderfully preserved, emphasizing the wood grain from which it is made, with no imperfections.

NOTEFrom Yonezawa City, Kuribayashi-san, (1924-2011) is considered one of the founding fathers of the Sosaku-Creative movement. His dolls have won every major award given over the years. He began his career in 1955 and is featured in the Nuremberg Toy Museum in Germany.