Artisan | Woodworker: Onodera, Kouraku | 1944

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:

Trained as a traditional Kijiyama artist from Akita-ken, Yuzawa-shi. He studied under Master Kokeshi Artists, Onodera, Tokuichi and Inagawa, Akita. In celebration of the Japanese Plum, each doll has been beautifully ornamented with the branches celebrating spring’s arrival. These tall and slender figures complement the incorporation of the tree branches reaching for the sun. Thin lines of the branches, combined with thinner internal lines, and the colorful flowers, define the three-dimensional shape.

Artist's signature: