Vintage Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Son'na otokonoko | Such a Boy” by Takeda, Masashi (1930-2015)
Dimensions: 9-1/2”h
A typical theme of only a few artists is that of either the mother with a child or the Baby Sitter (Oshin) caring for an infant. When the mother occupied the family babysitter, which was a trusted and essential part of the Japanese family, was particularly important to rural families who daily worked the fields, and who needed assurance that each child would be lovingly cared for throughout the day.
This image was not meant to be sentimental, but to exemplify the relationship between the figures, expressing serenity and stability. Here the doll shows the mother holding up her baby boy to proudly show him off and to give a feeling of accomplishment. The mother has a traditional and warm image with her hair in a bun and the child has a hair to resemble a ’star’ with eyes looking down at his mother. Her abstracted arms encircle the child and are attached to the main figure with a dowel. The piece is made of Birchwood, (Kabanoki) and fully lathe turned from one piece of wood and deliberately left un-ornamented so as not to distract from the moment. The piece has a paper acknowledgment on the base with the name of the Onsen where it was purchased. It is also signed on the bottom by the artist.
Additional Information:
Takeda-san trained as a Sakunami/ Yamagata Traditional artist in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture. His master is Takeda Usaburo, who also mentored Masashi’s older brother Shinkichi, who has remained a Traditional Yamagata artist. This piece was published in Sosaku Kokeshi: Celebrating the Major Artists of the Creative Movement. To read more about this artist go to: https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-takeda-masashi-1930.
Condition: Outstandingly excellent, impressive, and beautiful with some light marks of being played with by a child. No chips, cracks, breaks, missing pieces or restoration, and retains its original details and finish. The piece meets all the standards of the vintage collectible Sosaku Kokeshi.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Takeda, Masashi | 1930-2015
Origin:
Trained as a Sakunami/Yamagata Traditional artist in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture. His master is Takeda Usaburo, who also mentored Masashi’s older brother Shinkichi, who has remained a Traditional Yamagata artist.
As collectors we felt it was most important to represent all Sosaku Kokeshi artists, whether or not the artist has a written account of his or her life. Each show the diversity of this cultural specialization and the creative work produced by this artist.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
This artist is known for exceptionally carved and painted detail, and wonderfully intricate, adorned Kimono with some form of floral motif. Giving great character and depth to his dolls, Takeda–san shows his appreciation of the natural decorative quality of wood. Additionally, a typical theme of the mother with child is also seen in his work, but is quite rare. The duo are beautifully constructed, turned on the lathe, and pinned with dowels to create a sensitive, balanced image. The infant is seen in the arms of the mother, which is not meant to be sentimental, and exemplifies the relationship between the figures expressing serenity and stability.
Artist's Signature:
