Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Dento-tekina josie | Traditional Lady” by Yamanaka, Sanpei (1926-2012)
Dimensions: 18-0”h
This exceptionally tall and wonderful Kokeshi incorporates a delicate painting of a soft palette of watercolor rings in the ‘Rokuro moyo’ style that acts as surface decoration, encircling the entire figure. Her compassionate face, with a red “dot” nose, is imbued with a quality of peacefulness and is carved as a separate element in beautiful proportions. Her hair is represented traditionally, incorporating the ‘Mage’ hairstyle, with long hair on both sides of her face. There is an inscription on the bottom identifying the piece made by Yamanaka-san.
Born in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, and a graduate of the Textile Engineering School, he is a member of the Japan Kokeshi Crafts Association and an avid photographer. Yamanaka Sansei won 20 awards for his Kokeshi including the prestigious “Prime Minister” award in 1979. The piece was published in Sosaku Kokeshi: Celebrating the Major Artists of the Creative Movement in 2022. For more information on this artist go to the following link: https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-yamanaka-sanpei-1926.
Condition: Very good, meaning that the piece retains its original craft/workmanship showing a wonderfully developed patina commensurate with age, which suggests it corresponds to its vintage. The doll is void of damage, cracks, or breakage other than a knot in the wood. This doll meets all the collectible Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi standards by Yamanaka, Sanpei.
Return Policy
Our antique/vintage pieces are identified/described and professionally photographed, and considered, “as is”, therefore all sales are final. Read our full refund and return policy.
Artisan | Woodworker: Yamanaka, Sanpei | 1926-
Origin:
Born in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, Yamanaka-san began his artistic career as a photographer, after majoring in chemistry. However, rather than develop a career in Traditional Yamagata doll making, Yamanaka-san used his art background to join the Sosaku Kokeshi movement. A multiple award winner, he won the Ministry of Education Award at the all Nippon Modern Kokeshi Exhibition in 1979.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Yamanaka-san creates wonderfully painted and decorated dolls in many forms and shapes. He may utilize a palette of soft watercolor rings in the Rokuro-moyo manner, to create a suggestion of a rainbow, because in Buddhism, the rainbow is “the highest state achievable before attaining Nirvana, where individual desire and consciousness are sublimated”. On numerous occasions, Yamanaka adds painted flowers to add to the overall dimension of the garment that it is representing. This is not to say that he does not enjoy the natural qualities of wood. Controlled carving adds textures that are neat, random, and sometimes repetitive, and provides decoration to his dolls. The carving contrasts nicely with the natural grain of the wood. Dolls portray wonderful traditional hairstyles through the use of “chattering’ and controlled carving. His head and facial designs are most expressive, particularly with figures of children.
Artist's Signature:
