Antique Japanese Traditional (‘Takobozu’), Nakanosawa Kokeshi by Grand Master Iwamoto Yoshizou
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Dimensions: 12-0”h
This is a traditional Nakanosawa Kokeshi of the Tsuchiyu-kei and one of the family's Grand Masters, Iwamoto, Yoshizou, who was one of the original craftsmen who helped establish this style along with Iwamoto, Zenkichi in the 1920s. This family of dolls was previously considered a substrain of the Tsuchiyu style.
The specific type of Kokeshi is often described as male rather than female by kokeshi enthusiasts even though was not specifically designed to be a male, and is referred to as "Tako bozu" (たこ坊主, bald boys), an octopus face with a shaven head reminiscent of the hairstyle worn by monks. The facial expression shows humor that is representative of Iwamoto Kenichi, a street dancer, (Sutorītodansā) in the 1920s who used a cushion that had a face with large eyes painted on it. His audience was soon so taken with his dance with the pillow that they asked for a doll to be made with these special features.
This Kokeshi has a characteristically sizeable over-sized head with a small tuft of a wavy hair strand on the back and side harifriges which was typical of practitioners of the Zen Buddhist faith. The doll shows large expressive Bikkuri-me eyes, (surprised eyes) and the expressive Shishi-bata Lion’s nose with flared nostrils. This doll exhibits a faint reddish-to-pink blush around its eyes and an open mouth with a red tongue which were painted originally on the dancer's pillow. The doll incorporates Janome black rings painted on the top of its head with abstract peony petals on the side with bangs. Rokoru moyo red bands are incorporated below the neck and lower body on the thin and tapering body. The painted body incorporates two large open red and black peony flowers inspired by the tattoos that the Geisha sported. The doll is signed by the artist on the bottom of the doll.
Condition: Good vintage condition incorporating represented colors shown with age slight fading of the original colors which are commensurate with age on a natural wood base. This is a very RARE example of this family doll because of both the maker and his historical significance related to the establishment of this family of dolls and its history and uniqueness.
See additional writings on our website related to this subject: Under our Browse and Learn section, please refer to https://mingeiarts.com/collections/nakanosowa-family for full details on the history and development of this style doll.
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Japanese Traditional Kokeshi | Nakanosowa-Kei (Family)
Prefecture: Fukushima
Origin:
The Nakanosawa doll is a member of the Tsuchiyu family. However, it is so obviously different from the rest of this family that it warrants its own description. This distinctively painted traditional doll was originally created by Iwamoto Zenkichi, in Nakanosawa Onsen, in the town of Inawashiro, Fukushima Prefecture. How they came to be created is a wonderful story. It is said that a street dancer named Iwamoto Kenichi and performed a fast tempo foot dance called a "Kappore" fore which which he gave dancing lessions to local geisha girls. He created a Kokeshi doll copied after a pillow that he used in this dance. The painted pillow from which his Kokeshi doll had facial features as well as painted bold flower patterns. His audience was soon so taken with his dance with the pillow that they asked for a doll to be made with these special features and nicknamed affectionately as a "Tako Bouzu" with characteristic large popping eyes and bold flower design.
Collector's note – characteristics / painting style:
In the beginning, the doll was made of papier maché. When Kenichi’s son began to produce the doll, it was made like the rest of the traditional Kokeshi, but retained the large, expressive eyes, over-sized head, and reddish to pink blush on each cheek, similar to that painted on the pillow. The dolls also had a very different nose, with flared nostrils, much like a lion’s nose (shishi-bana). They were usually painted in the style of the rest of the Tsuchiyu Kokeshi, with the Janome rings painted on their heads and Rokoru bands on the tall, thin and tapering bodies.
One of the more unique features still found on Nakanosawa dolls, however, are the large, open peonies, which people claim were originally inspired by the tattoos that the Geisha sported.
These dolls also have been given the humorous name of “Tako Bozo”, which translated means “an octopus with a monk’s shaven head”. After the death of Kenichi’s son Yoshizou, a group of craftsmen kept the making of the Nakanosawa doll alive. While considered a sub-strain of the Tsuchiyu Kokeshi, these beguiling dolls have a special attraction to collectors because of their history.
Notable artists:
Seya Kouji, b. 1952
Kakizaki Fumiio, b.1947
Arakawa Youicihi, b. 1938
Sanbe Haruo, b. 1929
Takahashi, Takeo, Master
Seya, Juji, Master, b. 1924
Iwamoto Yoshizo, Grand Master