Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Chihaya | Autumn Chill” by Sekiguchi, Toa (1942-)
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Dimensions: 13-0’h
Toa-san was born in Shibukawa City, Gunma-ken, and is the son of Sansaku Sekiguchi. Winner of many awards, he received the Ministry of International Trade Industry Award in 1978. Toa-san shows off his artistic, painterly abilities, with the rendition of the Kimono in deep blues, depicting gold autumn grasses and flowers. She is wearing a wonderful, and detailed purple sash, and has long black hair. Her face is looking upwards, as though she was searching the night sky. The Kokeshi is exceptionally painted and is made of one piece of Mizuki, (Dogwood). This particular piece has simulated long, carved black hair inspired by the Heian period, and is in both flat and relief carving that affords the doll a wonderful textural quality, as does the simulated Kimono. The eyes have a meditative and serene expression, and she has a small red mouth. On the bottom of the doll is his red, impressed stamp documenting the maker.
The piece was published in the 2022 publication of Sosaku Kokeshi: Celebrating the Major Artists of the Creative Movement. For more information on this artist go to the following link:https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-sekiguchi-toa-1942.
Condition: Superb, outstandingly excellent, impressive, and beautiful. Photos cannot capture the exceptional work performed by the creation of this doll. No chips, cracks, breaks, missing pieces, or restoration, and retains its original details and finish. The piece meets all the standards of the vintage collectible Sosaku Kokeshi by Sekiguchi, Toa.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Sekiguchi, Toa | 1942-
Biographical History:
Son of Sansaku, Toa was born in Shibukawa City, Gunma-ken, and still lives and works there with his family, all of whom create Sosaku Kokeshi. Winner of many awards, he received the Ministry of International Trade Industry Award in 1978-9. Since then he has won the Prime Minister’s Award, one named Kaze ni Fukarete, and two others one named Utage and a third Chikurin are marked with his script signature and the note: “Naikaku-soridaijinsho jyushu sakka”, Several others received respected commendations. Toa and his wife operate their own Kokeshi studio, where they continue to create award-winning Kokeshi.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Toa-san often employs beautifully painted Mizuki (Dogwood), for his pieces. We see all types of motifs used, including festival elements representing fireworks, and natural elements such as abstracted Gingko leaves, (Ginkgo trees survived the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, and are considered a “bearer of hope”). We additionally see wheat, plum flowers, cloud-filled skies, and evening sunsets. Many pieces illustrate long hair executed by deep carving to define the hair strands. Toa definitely shows off his artistic, painterly abilities with beautiful creations in black, grey, vermillion, and gold.