Vintage Japanese Tougatta Ejiko Baby Spinning Top | Simulated Wood Basket | Sato, Fumio (1923-)
Dimensions: 3-0”h x 4-1/2”dia.
The Ejiko’s origin is derived from a folk toy that is called an Izume.ko Doll, (Izume.Ko means “Isume baby”) that dates from the early 1910s and which comes from Tsuruoka, of the Yamagata prefecture. The toy is based on an Isume, a woven basket but in this case it is simulated in wood with the baby, which is a spinning top sitting inside. Out of the earlier prototypes arose the Ejiko doll, which has its beginnings in the 1920s.
This toy follows the basic Ejiko design which is short and round in form and hollowed out to make space for the child to sit comfortably and easing the mother’s mind throughout the day. One only sees the upper part of the child’s body (neck and head). The facial features are the same as the regular-shaped dolls in the Tougatta family of dolls having a whips of hair falling down over its forehead and side hair fringes. The shoulders of the bay only indicates the top of its clothing striped in red and topped in a purple color. The child can be removed to show that it is a spinning top and made to spin and turn while in the container as if playing. The exterior of the simulated basket utilizing the Rokoru moyo horizontal strips in red running around the body of the wood container.
You can read more about Ejiko Kokeshi Toys in our BLOG by going to: https://mingeiarts.com/collections/ejiko-izume-ko-nemariko
Condition: Excellent meaning the piece is perfect, totally original, and complete and functions as intended. No cracks, no breaks, no missing pieces, and retains its wonderful presence and is previously protected and treasured by the previous owner. This Ejiko toy meets all the standards of the collectible Vintage Kokeshi toys and tops and without question a unique treasure for the Japanese collector.
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Japanese Traditional Kokeshi | Tougatta-Kei (Family)
Prefecture: Miyagi
Origin:
Tougatta dolls are thought to be the oldest family members of the Traditional school. They originated in the Tougatta Onsen in the Miyagi Prefecture, and were subsequently being produced also at Aone Onsen, and the cities of Sendai, and Izumi. In the 1960s, Togatta craftsman founded the Tougatta Kiji Union, a cooperative that was able to gain the rights for reserved wood use from the Japanese Ministry of Forestry. The Tougatta style are easily found by collectors in an interesting range of variations.
Collector's note – characteristics/painting style:
They are easily recognized by their narrow, columnar body shapes, tapering at the shoulders to a head that is wider than the rest of the doll, and more angular than round. Most Tougatta dolls have bangs split in two with side fringes, thin narrow eyes, and a split nose or cat-type nose. Several have paintings of chrysanthemums, (Kiku), plums (Ume), and iris (Ayame), usually in very stylized designs. The dolls decorated with plum branches and blossoms are associated with Aone Onsen. There is also a group which have ‘banded’ bodies. These are decorated in a circular-style painting known as Rokoru Moyo, which is done as the doll is turned on the lathe. Here again, the head is a squeeze-in type, but cannot be turned to produce a ‘squeak’. The head is covered with a painting of a chrysanthemum.
NOTE: Both Yajirou ad Togutta dolls are sometimes created with loose rings circling the waists. Literally carved from the same wood as the body, a very meticulous method! This treatment is referred to as 'Yamiyo' style kokeshi. It is also seen on Tsuchiyu dolls, though very rarely.
Notable artists:
Oohara Masayoshi
Asakura Kinu, b. 1918
Asakura Eiji, Master
Midorikawa Masando, b. 1926
Sato Tetsuro, Grand Master