Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Fuyu no Kokomo | Winter Child” by Aida, Seiho (A.K.A. Harumine) (1926-1998)
Dimensions: 6-1/4”h
This is an exceptional and rare Kokeshi exhibiting beautiful tooling, which defines the blanket wrap called a “Kakumaki”. This winter shoulder shawl was used throughout the Northern part of Japan to throw on quickly to keep a body warm on short outings. The most unique feature of this doll is the unusual and extensive surface treatment called Harmonic Chattering, giving texture focusing on the garment, and is highlighted with random vermilion coloration, along with the overall carving to simply define this piece. A simple serene facial expression angled downwards with horizontally slanted eyes, small red nose, and shallow textured bangs, with a negative space to appear as some form of hair ornamentation, were used to convey the face of a young girl peeping out from under the shawl. Signed in script on the bottom of the doll by the artist.
The piece is 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-aida-seihou-1926-1998
Condition: Superb meaning outstanding excellent, and retains its original craft/workmanship showing a wonderfully developed patina commensurate which that corresponds to its vintage, and void of damage, cracks, breakage, or repairs. This doll meets all the standards of the collectible Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Aida, Seihou | 1926-1998
Origin:
Aida-san is a very popular Sosaku Kokeshi artist who has won many awards since he began creating Kokeshi in 1962. Aida was bon in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture in the first year of the Showa era. Along with the Prime Minister’s Award, he also won a top awards in the Modern Kokeshi Academy in 1972-74; the Minister of Education Encouragement Price at the National Modern Kokeshi Exhibition in 1974; and an award in 1993 at the Special Kokeshi Federation Anniversary Exhibition. He is acknowledged as one of the leading early artists in the Sosaku movement, and usually works in Enju wood, a dark, beautiful-grained wood of the Pagoda tree.
Collector's Note — descriptive qualities, standard characteristics, & ornamentation styles:
Kimono design and motifs are understated with the use of chattering giving a rich textured surface, or intricately handpainted with seasonal and natural flaura elements. The natural wood, typically Enju – Pagoda tree wood), provides a contrast to his understated, minimally painted, and ornamented doll. His heads are minimally rendered and usually peeping out of its winter wrap.
His faces usually have a tiny red nose and expressive eyes. Aida, Seihoou is extremely collectable and hard to find in excellent condition. The collector that appreciates the manipulation of natural wood would appreciate this contemporary handling of all related elements.
Artist's Signature:
