Vintage Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Mugen | Cloudland” by Kuribayashi, Issetsu
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Dimensions: 14-1/4”h
The beautifully and relatively rare lathe-turned doll is rendered brush strokes of abstract green clouds throughout the body which allow the viewer to appreciate the simplicity of his work. The Keyaki wood from which it is made helps to accentuate her beautifully proportioned head with a serine facial expression and understated hair and side hair fringes. In Japanese culture, clouds represent elegance and high status. In Buddhism, clouds signify the “Western Paradise” beyond earth; and in Shintoism, the spirits of the dead. This piece won the Prime Minister’s Award for excellence. The piece is signed attribution by the artist.
NOTE: For more information on this artist go to our Browse & Learn section, https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-kuribayashi-issetsu-1924-2011 affording you details about this artist, who began his career in 1955 for which this piece is featured in the Nuremberg Toy Museum in Germany. Also published in the latest book entitled: Sosaku Kokeshi: Celebrating the Major Artists of the Creative Movement.
Condition: Excellent condition for the piece is perfect, with no chipping, missing elements or loss of artwork/color which is beautifully defined. It retains a beautiful finish, with its original craftsmanship preserved. Museum-quality: meeting the standards of the collector of Kuribayashi kokeshi.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Kuribayashi, Issetsu | 1924-2011
Biographical History:
Kuribayashi-san was born in Yonezawa city in 1924. He began making creative Kokeshi in 1955. Kuribayashi is considered one of the founding fathers of the Sosaku-Creative movement. Many of his works were one-of-a-kind creations." Yuzuriu", "Mugen" and "Kareha" are all prize winners: "Mugen”, (Eternity) won an honorary prize when it was exhibited at the 1970 World’s Fair in Osaka. Chiro was awarded the Encouragement Prize of the Minister of Education the year it was made and was displayed in the Government Pavilion at the Japan International Exposition. Additionally, a popular, Mother and Child theme is found in numerous works by various artists including Kuribayashi. Issetsu’s Kokeshi are held in the collection of the Nuremberg Toy Museum in Germany. He was the President of the Yonezawa Miyuki Association and a Member of the Nippon Kokeshi Artistic Handicraft Association.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Kuribayashi-san enjoys long flowing unbound hair, (taregami), and incorporates traditional hairstyles both with and without hair ornaments, (Kanzashi). The eyes express humility, and his faces typically have a tiny red spot for the nose. Shape and balance are important elements of Japanese style and decoration. These carved and complementing shapes are thought to suggest intuition and inspiration.