Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi Entitled, “FUGA” by Kishi, Sadao
Dimensions: 14-1/4”h
He is credited with being one of the major influences of the ‘Sosaku Kokeshi Movement’, gaining recognition for the dolls as a popular and valid art form. The Wheat Festival in Korobe Gorge inspired this Kokeshi artist, in whose wheat is one of his central motifs. An emphasis on simple turned wood and an exceptionally formed head gives focus to the subject of his work and is a wonderful feature to behold. The piece is turned from Kalopanax pictus (Casto-aralia) wood. Her hair drapes down the sides of her face, and is topped with a beautifully fashioned ‘mage’, that is so delicately formed it appears to be like an elaborate Kanzashi hairpin. Her eyes are positioned to look down with a small indication of a mouth. She is wearing a ‘Michiyuki’ (traveling coat) colored in transparent browns which matches her hair. Her Kimono is covered with black kernels of wheat on a background of faint chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemums are additionally featured in aqua on the front of her Obi. There is only a slight indication of the collar and foldings of her kimono. She is beautifully proportioned, and a rare large doll celebrating nature and its connection to everyday life. An emphasis on simple turned wood gives focus to the subject of his work. This Kokeshi won the Prime Minister's Prize in 1983 and was featured in the Creative KOKESHI Artistic Handicraft Directory. The doll has Kishi-san’s impressed red stamp on the bottom. A "rare" doll and a wonderful collector's treasure to round out an exemplary collection.
For additional information on the Artist see: https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-kishi-sadao-1932-1998
Condition: Excellent, original condition, with no fading or loss of color and consistent with age. The piece meets all the standards of Sosaku Kokeshi Folk Art.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Kishi, Sadao | 1932-1998
Biographical History:
Kishi-san was born in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture in 1932 and produced an array of creative Kokeshi dolls until his passing in 1998. In 1950 he started creating Sosaku Kokeshi. During his career, he received numerous awards, winning the Prime Minister’s Award and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award (METI). He is credited with being one of the major influences of the ‘Sosaku Kokeshi Movement’, gaining recognition for the dolls as a popular and valid art form. In 1969 his Kokeshi entitled: “Spirit of Wheat” was purchased by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. In 1970, he dedicated his work to the Enshrining Festival of the Meiji Shrine, representing his Kokeshi focused on the Korobe Gorge golden brown Wheat which was not only a central theme and the main agricultural enterprise in his native prefecture.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Many of his dolls illustrate both a burning technique as well as painting images which he initiated called, “Shou sugiban”, which creates three-dimensional qualities enhancing the garments on his Kokeshi and ‘Michiyuki’ (traveling coat) or Kimono. Many of his dolls have a three-dimensional ring of different wood to bring attention to his unique approach to the Obi. Other Obi were pronounced and showed flowers such as the chrysanthemum flower. Additionally, he incorporated simple flowers and subjects related to mothers and children as both form-giving and decoration on the bodies. The faces on his dolls are extremely simple incorporating angled eyes and a suggestion of a nose and lips. Many of his dolls featured a ‘Mage’, in which the hair is stacked, in a complex manner, with some incorporated decorative ‘Kanzashi’ (hairpins). He used a variety of woods including Castoaralia wood, and finished with a type of candle called, “Rōsoku no rō” All of his creations are beautifully proportioned and show a direct connection to everyday life. Several Kokeshi won the Prime Minister's Prize in 1983 and was featured in the Creative KOKESHI Artistic Handicraft Directory.