Vintage RARE Japanese Zodiac Rabbit (Usagi) Kokeshi by Sato, Kouson
Dimension: 12-1/2” h x 5-1/2” dia (5lbs)
Sato, Kouson, (A.K.A. Komura) kokeshi are easily recognized. On special occasions she created Zodiac characters such as the one being offered that is quite rare and treasured as a symbol of good luck. Komura was afraid to create very large dolls for which her work distances itself from other female artists in the creative genre through a bold approach to both the form and graphics.
Most Kokeshi of this type are centered around children, with some believing that kokeshi represent to add playfulness into a child’s life, and bring children closer to the traditions and folk tales of Japan. Many people also agree that they were originally exchanged as tokens of friendship, many as with this doll having statements or wishes based on the purpose of the gift. This is an excellent example of Kouson’s harder to find Zodiac creations, (Year of the Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, and 2023).
As for the details of this lathe-turned doll, this large and heavy doll shows a head positioned on the neck/collar of her body. It has a wonderful soft and gentle face and has been given a traditional hairstyle topped with a “Mage”, (bun or topknot) and hairpin (Kanzashi) with bright red ends incorporating some traditional detailing into a Sosaku doll. Her face has black expressive eyes with eyelashes, without eyebrows, a white cat nose, and an expressive red mouth. The artists painterly qualities are exceptional with expressive artwork carved and painted in white enamel. Even the surface of the moon shows detailing emphasizing the Tsukino Usagi, The Moon Rabbit, (see the fully story on our website: https://mingeiarts.com/blogs/celebration-of-mingei-journey-through-japan/tsukino-usagi-the-moon-rabbit-beautiful-center-of-water-rabbits-selfless-and-making-mochi-on-the-moon). On the bottom of this kokeshi is the artist's impressed stamp, with details of the rabbit motif and her signature on the back with a miniature stamp.
See additional writings on our website related to this artist: https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-sato-kouson-a-k-a-komura
Condition: Excellent vintage condition, commensurate with age and retaining the original craft/workmanship and natural features of the wood (Japanese Cedar - Sugi). The piece meets all the standards of Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi.
Artisan
Woodworker: Sato, Kouson (A.K.A. Kimura)
Biographical History:
One of the few female creative Kokeshi makers recognized as an accomplished artist, Kouson worked from her studio in Fukushima, in the heart of the devastating area of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. There is little biographical data on Kouson, but as collectors, we felt it was most important to represent all Sosaku Kokeshi artists, whether or not each artist has a written account of his/her life. We show the diversity of cultural values and the creative work produced by a multitude of artists.
In researching old writings through articles and books that remain, it is evident that the Kokeshi Craftsperson not only created beautiful forms as toys, but also kept alive cultural values, customs, and fashion through the extensive representations of Kokeshi dolls. The beauty is in the doll and not the signatures, for most masters never signed their dolls. Later they named the dolls, but only when Westerners insisted on signatures because they did not know the artists, so the carvers began to sign their works, for the carvers wanted to promote sales to make a living, during the seasons that did not provide an environment to continue their otherwise daily work.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Kouson-san had a daring approach to her painting style and was not afraid to make very large and expressive dolls. Her dolls are easily recognized by wonderfully soft and gentle faces, with the bodies’ artwork ranging from simple but elegant sumi-e’ brush strokes to beautifully painted autumn leaves, camellia, (winter rose), or the chrysanthemum, (Kikumon, as related to the Imperial Seal of Japan) and bamboo. She occasionally created Zodiac characters that are quite rare! Not afraid to create very large dolls, her work distances itself from other female artists in the creative genre with her bold approach. She also incorporated “Chatter Work” into the body of some dolls to create a wonderful contrast in texture.
Explore & Learn More about Woodworker: Sato, Kouson (A.K.A. Kimura)