Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi by Sato, Kouson, (A.K.A. Komura) | Entitled: “Hana” (Flower
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Dimensions: 12-0”h
This doll incorporates is by a wonderful and creative female woodworker, and one of the few female creative Kokeshi makers recognized as an accomplished artist who worked out of her studio in Fukushima-ken, Kuwaori-machi. This was in the heart of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastation area.
This particular Kokeshi incorporates a wonderful soft and gentle face, with a traditional hazrtreatment of a top knot and red Kanzashi, (hairpin), which was an expression of a woman’s character, social class, or religion. People could even tell what neighborhood someone lived in by looking at their hair ornaments. According to an ancient Japanese proverb, “A woman’s hair is her life”, (Kami wa onna no inochi), and from the early 1600s until the beginning of the modern era, decorative combs and hairpins have been an important part of Japanese fashion. The bodies’ artwork illustrates carved cherry blossoms outlined in black on a vermillion red textured background with her bold approach, creating a wonderful contrast in texture. The piece is signed on the bottom by the artist.
Vintage Condition: Very Good, “As is” with some scattered light water marks under the lacquer finish on the face from dampness, which does not affect the design, and retains the original craft/workmanship. Otherwise the doll is excellent with chipping/cracking, or structural damage.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Sato, Kouson (A.K.A. Kimura)
Origin:
One of the few female creative Kokeshi makers recognized as an accomplished artist, Kouson worked out of her studio in Fukushima-ken, Kuwaori-machi. This was in the heart of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastation area of Fukushima Prefecture.
As collectors, we felt it was most important to represent all Sosaku Kokeshi artists, and particularly a female 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:
Her dolls are easily recognized by wonderfully soft and gentle faces, with the bodies’ artwork ranging from simple but elegant sumi-e’ brush strokes to beautifully painted autumn leaves, camellia, (winter rose), or the chrysanthemum, (Kikumon, as related to the Imperial Seal of Japan) and bamboo. She occasionally created Zodiac characters that are quite rare! Not afraid to create very large dolls, her work distances itself from other female artists in the creative genre with her bold approach. She also incorporated “Chatter Work” into the body of some dolls to create a wonderful contrast in texture.
Artist's signature:
