Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi by Shido, Shouzan entitled: Kitaguni (Wintry Weather)
Dimensions: 11-1/2”h
Shido-san loved loved creating slender, tall dolls to support the fact that they resemble thin trees seen throughout Japan. He also enjoyed using a variety of woods to give character to his dolls.
Shouzan particularly enjoyed the and snowy season, which is a favorite theme, executed with minimal painted ornamentation, and in this case with a scarf to accentuate the body of the doll and part of the headdress called a ‘Tsunokakushi’, which is a wide headdress or hood, which covered the hair with bangs peeping out of the hood. Here you see a very characteristic treatment of the of eyes. The black scarf is shown over an overcoat that is defined only by a variation in the recessed line on the bottom of the doll in which the Kimono is shown as vertical line work on the bottom which brings forth the best use of complex geometry to create traditional Japanese clothing elements.
Condition: This doll is in excellent condition with no fading and painted work as originally made.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Shido, Shouzan | 1932-1995
Biographical History:
Shouzan began making Sosaku Kokeshi in 1959, soon after he graduated from Chuo University with a law degree. He is considered by Kokeshi collectors and critics alike to be arguably the most influential artist in the world of Sosaku Kokeshi doll-making. Shido-san’s main focus was depicting unadorned Northern girls in the traditional “Mino”, or Snow Coat, but he also produced tall, thin dolls, which were sparsely decorated. His keen sense of design, minimal use of color, and simple elegant shapes set him apart from his peers, making him one of the most collectible artists emerging from the creative period of the ‘60s winning various awards since 1961. He served as a judge of the All Japan Kokeshi Contest from 1970 to 1976. During that time Shozan published a book entitled Kizin Kasho comprising examples of his award-winning Kokeshi. His dolls have been collected and exhibited worldwide and winner of the Prime Minister’s Award, among many other awards.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Shito-san loved studying the use of combining different types of wood to gain the desired effect and to give dimension to his pieces. He also enjoyed creating slender, tall dolls to support the fact that they resemble the tall, thin trees seen throughout Japan. He incorporated a repetitive textural pattern called ‘Harmonic Chatter work’ to enhance the natural qualities of the wood in many of his works. He particularly enjoyed the textural qualities of ‘Chattering’ on the rain/snow coat, (Minomushi), which is a favorite theme, executed with minimal painted ornamentation, with an emphasis on the natural wood. In general, it is said that Japanese culture is one of modesty and humility. Occasionally saw different types of headdresses, one of which he called a ‘Tsunokakushi’, which is a wide headdress or hood, that covered elaborate hairstyles. We are told that the Japanese people regulate their behavior and response by reading faces and the eyes of others. Here, as well as elsewhere, you will see many examples of different characteristics of the eye's expressions. His most famous doll, which was considered a favorite was called “Mai”, a dancer, which was an elegant and slender doll with a beautifully formed Kimono focusing on traditional hair design (Mage) with an emphasis on a brightly colored “obi” which brings forth the best use of complex geometry to create traditional Japanese clothing elements which were created in 1970.
Shito-san was a prolific artist/woodworker of Kokeshi dolls some of which were whimsical, some focusing on calligraphy citing haiku (poems). We additionally see unusual subjects focused on Zen Buddhism and figures of Daruma, (Bodhidharma) of which most were made in a “roly-poly” type figure seen throughout festivals in Japan.