Vintage Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Shunen | Flower Garden” by Kuribayashi, Issetsu (1924–2011)
Dimensions: 8-1/2”h x 5-1/2”dia. (8lbs)
This beautifully rendered Kokeshi is by Kuribayashi, who is considered one of the founding fathers of the Sosaku-Creative movement. The doll is a superb large, and one-of-a-kind creation, with beautiful black and red hand-painted decoration on the body featuring a Kiku, (chrysanthemum), floral motif to define the kimono. Other portions of the figure emphasize the wood grain and natural color. It also emphasizes humility with the narrow slant eyes, a tiny red nose, and flowing hair from the top of the head, down its shoulders completing the serene expression represented by this doll. The piece is signed.
Issetsu Kuribayashi ranks amongst the most celebrated Kokeshi artisans of the "golden era" of creative Kokeshi making. His works are always incredibly well-made, demonstrating his artistic flair. You may never see another Sosaku Kokeshi doll like this one again!! He began his career in 1955 and he is also featured in the Nuremberg Toy Museum in Germany alongside master Watanabe, Masao.
The piece is published in Sosaku Kokeshi: Celebrating the Major Artists of the Creative Movement in 2022. For more information on this artist go to the following link: https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-kuribayashi-issetsu-1924-2011.
Condition: Superb, meaning outstanding, excellent, and retains its original craft/workmanship showing a wonderfully-developed patina commensurate with age which corresponds to its vintage. The doll is void of damage, cracks, breakage, or repairs and exceptionally heavy being turned from one piece of wood. This doll meets all the standards of the collectible Japanese Sosaku 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.