Vintage Japanese Traditional Tougatta Kokeshi by Nagao, Masayoshi
Dimensions: 12-0”h
Togatta kokeshi are thought to be the oldest family members of the Traditional school from the Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. This doll has a narrow, columnar body shape tapering and in this case a bulbous bodice with red and green circular-style painting known as Rokoru Moyo banding body. The innermost circles are red and alternate on the collar with green with on both the bodice and base incorporate abstract chrysanthemum, (Kiku) flowers and green leaves. On the top of the head is a red bow and a loop on the head, incorporating a flower petal motif which also frames the face along with split bangs and side fringes. The face have think narrow eyes sometimes referred to as Futae-mabuta (double lid), and a split nose.
The most unusual aspect of this kokeshi which also makes this piece extremely RARE is the meticulous treatment of two loose wood rings carved on the middle section of the waist all from the same wood as the body. This treatment is referred to as “Yamiyo”, which adds a toy-like element to the form. In 43 years of collecting we have only found four Kokeshi incorporating this design style. The doll is made from one piece Elm (Keyaki/Zelkowa) wood and accelerated the Japanese’s love of ‘nature-worship’, for wood has long been revered as a vehicle to house the spirits of Japan’s Shinto beliefs. The piece is signed on the bottom of the doll and a student of Sato, Kichinosuke, Miyagi Prefecture.
See additional writings on our website related to this subject: Under our Browse and Learn section, please refer to https://mingeiarts.com/collections/tougatta-kei-family for full details on the history and development of this style doll.
Condition: Excellent and beautiful condition affording the doll age-old elegance. Retains the original craft/workmanship showing a wonderfully-developed untouched patina commensurate with age. The piece meets all the standards of Traditional Kokeshi collectibles and is an exceptional piece for collectors of Tougatta Family dolls.
Japanese Traditional Kokeshi
Tougatta-Kei (Family)
Prefecture: Miyagi
Origin:
Tougatta dolls are considered the oldest family members of the Traditional school. They originated in the Tougatta Onsen in the Miyagi Prefecture and were subsequently produced at Aone Onsen and the cities of Sendai and Izumi. In the 1960s, Togatta craftsmen founded the Tougatta Kiji Union, a cooperative that gained the rights for reserved wood use from the Japanese Ministry of Forestry. Collectors easily find the Tougatta style in an interesting range of variations.
Collector's note – characteristics/painting style:
Tougatta dolls 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. The head is a squeeze-in type, and it is covered with a painting of a chrysanthemum. Most Tougatta dolls have split bangs (Hachi), with side fringes, crescent-shaped double-lidded eyes (many of which have arched brows), and a split nose or cat-type nose. Several have paintings of chrysanthemums (Kiku), plums (Ume), and irises (Ayame), usually in very stylized designs. The dolls decorated with plum branches and blossoms are associated with Aone Onsen. There is also a group that has ‘banded’ bodies primarily in red with some green. These are decorated in a circular-style painting known as Rokoru Moyo, which is done as the doll is turned on the lathe. The most collectible type is the Tougatta Mokuma style, in which the body or kimono is intricately painted with a detailed and variable wood grain pattern.
NOTE: The rare Tougatta Yamiyo dolls are created with loose rings circling the waists. Carved from the same wood as the body- it is a very meticulous method! It is also seen on Yajirou and Tsuchiyu dolls, though just as rare.
Leading Craftsmen:
Agatsuma, Shozo, 1932- No additional published information
Saito, Ryosuke, 1925-2015 - No additional published information
Sato Fumio, 1923-1986. Lineage: Tougatta lineage Master: Sato Bunsuke Disciples: Sato Hidehiro / Kobayashi Sadao / Ohata Hideo. Born in Togatta-Shinchi as the eldest son of Sato Ushizo and Tamayo, woodworkers in Togatta-Shinchi. He trained in woodworking under Sato Bunsuke. In 1940 Sato-san learned how to turn kokeshi dolls and toys. Fumio was said to have both the Bunsuke and Ushizo characters inside him and was always caught in a conflict between his two mentors from the Tougatta and Hijiori families.
Sato, Bunkichi, 1922-2008 - No additional published information
Sato, Kouichi - No additional published information
Sato, Masairo, 1938- No additional published information
Sato, Nirio, 1948, (Tougatta, Miyagi) - Master: Sato, Teruo
Sato, Teruo, 1919 - (Tougatta) -Master: Sato Seisuke
Sato, Tomio - No additional published information
Sato, Yoshiaki, (Tougatta, Miyagi) - Master: Sato, Teruo
Sato, Ushizo , Master - (Tougatta, Miyagi Spa)
Nagao, Masayoshi, 1931-2001, (Sendai, Miyagi) - Master: Sato, Mamoru
Wagamatsu, Yoshio, 1932 (Aone, Miyagi) - Master: Wagatsuma, Kichisuke
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