Vintage Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: Kantsubaki | Winter Camellia by Sato Kouson (A.K.A. Komura)
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Dimensions: 12-1/4”h
We have yet to find any biographical information about this artist for she valued her privacy when she worked out of her studio in Fukushima-ken, Kuwaori-machi, Japan. As with this beautifully formed doll, Sato-sans dolls are easily recognized by their wonderfully soft, gentle faces, with the bodies’ artwork ranging from simple but elegant sumi-e’ brush strokes to beautifully painted camellia blossoms. She had no problems in creating huge dolls and separates her work from other female artists in the creative genre with her bold approach. The Japanese Camellia, (Tsubaki), also known as the Rose of Winter symbolizes passion and deep desire, and is an evergreen loved by the Japanese. It has leathery leaves of dark green, and along with the flower is incorporated into this figure. Her eyes are rendered to show a tender expression with just a small indication of a nose. The hair of the doll is shown pulled pack on the sides of its face with just a slight indication of bangs. What makes the doll unique is the figure is in three sections: the head, the main body and the bottom of the figure which is separated by a three-dimensional Obi in black which we have not seen in other published images.
See additional writings on our website related to this subject: https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-sato-kouson-a-k-a-komura
Condition: Mint meaning the piece is perfect, totally original and complete with no fading, cracks, or restoration, and retains its wonderful patina which suggests a degree of slight wear that corresponds to its vintage. The artifact meets all the standards of the collectible Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Sato, Kouson (A.K.A. Kimura)
Biographical History:
One of the few female creative Kokeshi makers recognized as an accomplished artist, Kouson worked from her studio in Fukushima, in the heart of the devastating area of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. There is little biographical data on Kouson, but as collectors, we felt it was most important to represent all Sosaku Kokeshi artists, whether or not each artist has a written account of his/her life. We show the diversity of cultural values and the creative work produced by a multitude of artists. As a valued customer, Kokeshi collector noted, “Kokeshi collecting is a personal journey in this everlasting realm of Japanese esthetics”. DF
In researching old writings through articles and books that remain, it is evident that the Kokeshi Craftsperson not only created beautiful forms as toys, but also kept alive cultural values, customs, and fashion through the extensive representations of Kokeshi dolls. The beauty is in the doll and not the signatures, for most masters never signed their dolls. Later they named the dolls, but only when Westerners insisted on signatures because they did not know the artists, so the carvers began to sign their works, for the carvers wanted to promote sales to make a living, during the seasons that did not provide an environment to continue their otherwise daily work.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Kouson-san had a daring approach to her painting style and was not afraid to make very large and expressive dolls. Her dolls are easily recognized by wonderfully soft and gentle faces, with the bodies’ artwork ranging from simple but elegant sumi-e’ brush strokes to beautifully painted autumn leaves, camellia, (winter rose), or the chrysanthemum, (Kikumon, as related to the Imperial Seal of Japan) and bamboo. She occasionally created Zodiac characters that are quite rare! Not afraid to create very large dolls, her work distances itself from other female artists in the creative genre with her bold approach. She also incorporated “Chatter Work” into the body of some dolls to create a wonderful contrast in texture.