Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: ‘Henso shōjo | Braided Girl’ by Ishihara Hideo (1925-1999)
Dimensions: 12-0"h
Offered is one of Ishihara’s most creative Kokeshi represent representing one of a series of “pigtail/Braid” dolls. This doll emphasizes the 'Braid', which symbolizes innocence. This is one of a diversity of interesting forms created by this artist showing a unique interpretation that makes up the “Braid and Pigtails”, all hand-formed using Dogwood, (Hanamizuki). The body is smooth in texture emphasizing the natural wood and body form. Her face is very expressive and slightly tilted which all elements define the figure. The piece has Ishihara-sans signature on the bottom.
Ishihara began making Sosaku Kokeshi, and in ten years (1959-1969) while overcoming an illness from which he eventually died, and received more than 60 awards, including the highest honor, the Prime Minister’s Award.
Condition: Mint means that the piece retains its original craft/workmanship showing a wonderful-developed patina commensurate which suggests no degree of wear that corresponds to its vintage. It is void of damage, cracks, breakage, or repairs and meets all the standards of the collectible Sosaku Kokeshi.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Ishihara, Hideo | 1925 - 1999
Origin:
Ishihara-san, born in Tokyo in 1925 was a highly influential Sosaku Kokeshi artist and began his career by making Traditional Narugo dolls in 1957. His grandfather was the famous artist Onuma Iwatao, of Narugo Onsen, Miyagi, and creator of the "Naruko Kokeshi". After graduating from University, Ishihara-san was under medical care for more than ten years, during which time he studied painting. Upon recovering from his illness, he began making Sosaku Kokeshi, and in a ten-year period (1959-1969), he received more than sixty awards, including the highest honor, the Prime Minister’s Award. He was introduced to the twenty-three countries in Europe and America by NHK. He has sponsored 30 exhibitions in Japan including those at Matsuzakaya Nagoya and Ginza, and four exhibitions in overseas countries. He was one of the founders of the Nippon Kokeshi Artistic Handicraft Association.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Ishihara-san’s dolls are based on many motifs found in nature and textile design. He loves portraying both young and old characters with differing hairstyles, (traditional and 1950s era). He illustrates numerous kimono styles in both painted form and carving and utilizes simple graphic treatment to emphasize the strong character of his dolls, which bring out the true nature of the wood materials through manipulation of the turned and carved wood. His dolls are always finished in a simple wax coating. It is also not unusual to see him utilize sumi-e’ drawing of faces that have both the ‘one-stroke eye’, (Hitofude-me), as well as a variation of traditional doll eye treatments.
Artist's signature:
