Vintage Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: Bunko | Elegance by Aida, Seihou
Dimensions: 11-3/4"h
This is an exceptional one-off kokeshi and is again made from the Pagoda tree, (Enju), and is simply ornamented using a wheat motif; as well as hair in silver, subtly contrasting to the dark wood. She has a traditional hair treatment with a “Mage”, which is a type of bun in which the hair is wrapped in a complex circular coil to further define the head. The face and eyes are looking down. She has a tiny red dot for a nose. Her Obi is of lighter wood and is given a deep relief to accentuate the figure. The artist's stamp is lightly affixed to the bottom of the doll.
Vintage Condition: Pristine, excellent condition affording the doll age-old elegance. Retains the original craft/workmanship showing a wonderfully-developed patina commensurate with age and unrestored. A very rare piece meeting all the standards of Sosaku Kokeshi collectibles.
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Artisan
Woodworker: Aida, Seihou
1926-1998
Biographical History:
Aida-san, (a.k.a. Harumine), is a leading Sosaku Kokeshi artist who has won many awards since he began creating Kokeshi in 1947 and has produced award-winning dolls from 1962-1974. Aida was born in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture in the first year of the Showa era. Along with the Prime Minister’s Award, he also won top awards in the Modern Kokeshi Academy in 1972-74; the Minister of Education Encouragement Price at the National Modern Kokeshi Exhibition in 1974; and an award in 1993 at the Special Kokeshi Federation Anniversary Exhibition. He is acknowledged as one of the leading early artists in the Sosaku movement. His eldest son, Yoshiki has taken over the family name and is exclusively a sedcond generation craftsman of Sosaku Kokeshi. Sheiho was a memeber of the Yonezawa Miyuki Association until his death.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Kimono design and motifs are understated with chattering giving a rich textured surface, or intricately handpainted with seasonal and natural flora elements. The natural wood, typically the deep coloration and graining of the Enju, (Pagoda tree wood) and Birch, (Kabanoki), provides a basis for his creations, which, in most cases are minimally painted, and ornamented. The faces on his dolls are meant to be more expressive, and minimally rendered and incorporate a suggestion of a nose and expressive eyes. He always celebrates the garment worn with distinctive hairstyles when emphasized.
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