

Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi
"Mangetsu | Full Moon"
Aoki, Ryoka
Descriptive qualities:
A young girl or “Chuushuu no Meigetsu”, also called Jugoya, the night of the full August moon, in early autumn. The images on her kimono speak of the fall and the use of pampas-like grass, (Sesuki), in the various celebrations. Ancient Japanese had a custom of worshiping the full moon, for it was believed that a full moon was a symbol of a rich harvest.
Artist's Signature:
Artisan | Woodworker: Aoki, Ryoka
[no-bio]
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Shown in the images above are two traditional subjects made into Sosaku Kokeshi. The figure on the right, entitled, “Hime Daruma | Female Daruma”, is modeled after Bodidharma, and is a female manifestation of this religious figure. It was not unusual to find just the face of Hime Daruma, surrounded by seasonal flowers and artistically incorporated into Sosaku Kokeshi.
The figure on the left, entitled, “Mangetsu | Full Moon”, is of a young girl or “Chuushuu no Meigetsu”, also called Jugoya, the night of the full August moon, in early autumn. The images on her kimono speak of the fall and the use of pampas-like grass, (Sesuki), in the various celebrations. Ancient Japanese had a custom of worshiping the full moon, for it was believed that a full moon was a symbol of a rich harvest.