Vintage, RARE Traditional Yajirou Kokeshi by Niiyama, Hisashiro
Dimensions: 12-0”h
This exceptional Yajirou Kokeshi by Niiyama (b.1942), who studied under Master Niiyama, Hisashi who are comes from a small farming village of Yajirou, near Kamasaki Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture. Because the villagers of Yajirou were primarily farmers, it wasn’t until after the mid-20th century that the crafting of Kokeshi dolls and selling them to the tourists became their main source of income. As a result, the great majority of Yajirou dolls are some of the newest of the ten families.
This beautifully finished doll is executed in Enju, (Pagoda), wood with black sumi-e’ graphics representing chrysanthemum petals running down the from of the body. The majority of this style have wider bases, making them very stable. The entire head is painted black in a circular pattern, with simulated hair and side fringes, and a face showing one lid eyelid, eye brows, a cat-shaped nose and a red dot for lips. The script signature of the artist with other details are on the bottom of the doll.
Condition: Excellent, original condition, with no fading or loss of color and consistent with age. The piece meets all the standards of collectible Folk Art.
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Japanese Traditional Kokeshi | Yajirou-Kei (Family)
Prefecture: Miyagi
Origin:
The creators of these dolls hail from the small farming village of Yajirou-machi near Kamasaki Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture, once a farming village between two, tall mountains. The kiji-shi (woodworkers), divided their time between farming and wood-craft. Those who made kokeshi in their spare time sent their wives to the nearby Kamasaki Onsen to sell their work to tourist shops and through onsens.
Collector's note – characteristics/painting style:
The majority of this style has distinct waists and wider bases, making them very stable. Yajirou dolls are some of the most brightly painted of the traditional family set. Utilizing a veritable rainbow of colours, from the usual red and black to green, yellow, and even blue and purple, they are available in probably the widest range of shapes. The upper body usually has a hand-painted collar with horizontal stripes encircling the body, as in the Rokoru moyo style, and vertical stripes running below the waist to the base of the doll. However, Yajirou dolls can also be found with a series of chrysanthemum petals running down the front of the body, or a branch of plum blossoms as the only decoration. Some, also have a painted beret-like feature or a bun on their heads, similarly painted with a red center spot. Less common are Yajirou that have conical hats known as Suge-Gasa. Typically seen is one lid or double eyelids, cat or pick shaped nose. Yajirou kokeshi have been made from cherry wood, camellia, and maple, but the preferred wood is white dogwood, (mazuki).
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:
Satou Denki, b. 1909Satou Dennai, Master
Ishikawa Tokujiro, b. 1915
Niiyama Fukutaro, Master
Sato Tatsuro, b. 1928
Sato Imasaburo, Master
Hamatsu Heizaburo, b. 1933
Niiyama Sanai, MasterYajirou
Niiyama Yoshinori, b. 1960
Niiyama Yoshitaro, Grand Master