Artisan | Woodworker: Kato Tatsuo | 1941-

Biographical Information

Tatsuo was born in Maebashi City and taught Kokeshi woodworking and design at NKAHA from 1977 to 1981. He apprenticed as a Sosaku Kokeshi artist under Sekiguchi Sansaku in the 1960s, and numerous of his dolls have won top prizes since 1971. His extraordinary Kokeshi have appeared in various exhibits throughout Japan and in several books citing the major artists of this creative movement. 

Collector's Note — descriptive qualities, standard characteristics, & ornamentation styles:

His main focus was not only on celebrating the diverse colors of natural wood but also surface ornamentation recording the diversity of kimonos throughout Japan, and decorating the surface of his dolls with extravagant and intricate Kimono features of floral designs. Each doll is painstakingly hand-carved in elegant proportions. Every stand of hair in both traditional and contemporary design along with every feature of the garment is beautifully detailed. The facial expressions are charming and regal.