Vintage Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: Tanigawadake | Mt. Tanigawa by Sato Tatsuo (1928-2009)
Dimensions: 21-3/4”h
Sato-san was an accomplished oil painter and loved Mt. Tanigawa, a mountain, canyon and waterfall where he lived. His Kokeshi illustrate a a comprehensive composition, incorporating calligraphy on the body which typically were short poems, (Haiku) which are said to embody the spirit of Mr. Tanigawa.
The exceptionally large and rare doll exhibits a balance between the style of the Yajirou Kokeshi in the head treatment and the Sosaku treatment throughout its body. The pictorial subject encourages the viewer to concentrate on the hand- painted landscape and on the short poem, (Haiku), which lovingly expresses his feelings. Although his work falls into the creative Kokeshi category, this style of doll has traditional Yajirou elements in both the facial and hair treatment, the one eyelid, and the pick shaped nose. Also used in its design is the black and red grooving of the line work around the neck and bottom of the image which frames the centerpiece. This line-work having an 1/8” deep carved lathe detailing which is additionally a very meticulously painted method known as ‘Rokoru Moyo’. As with Yajirou Kokeshi this doll has a wood base made of cherry, (Sakura no ki). The doll has the title of the doll on the front of the body and is signed in script by the artist on the bottom of the figure.
Very few dolls of this design by Sato-san were made, and we were told that this design was created because the town leaders, where the artist resides, commission this Kokeshi as souvenirs, (omiyage), to give to important dignitaries and visitors coming to the village and Mt. Tanigawa. The poem translates as: “The Earth trembles at Ichi-no-Kurasawa at Mt. Tanigawa.”
See additional writings on our website related to this subject: https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-sato-tatsuo-1928-2009
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, Tatsuo | 1928-2009
Origin:
Born in Yajirou, Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture, Tatsuo studied under Master Sato Imasaburo, producing traditional Yajirou Kokeshi. While he remained a traditional Yajirou Artist, he also created some rare Sosaku Kokeshi, for he was an accomplished oil painter. Tatsuo’s love of Mt. Tanigawa, a popular tourist attraction near his home, is wonderfully illustrated in his depiction of the canyon and waterfall in winter on these creative Kokeshi, with all the inherent natural elements. Arranged in a comprehensive composition, the calligraphy on the body of his Kokeshi are typically short poems, (Haiku), which embody the spirit of Mt. Tanigawa. The poem here translates as: “The Earth trembles at Ichi-no-Kurasawa at Mt. Tanigawa”.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
The subject of Sato-san’s extremely detailed dolls forces the eyes to concentrate on the hand-painted landscape, and associated poems about this wonderful visual experience. Although his work falls into the creative Kokeshi category, each of his dolls have traditional elements in both the facial characteristics and the colored grooving of the line work framing the image. The town leaders, where the artist resides, uses his pieces as souvenirs, (omiyage), to visiting dignitaries.