Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled “Korin | After Ogata Korin” by Takahashi, Hashime (1918-2002)
Dimensions: 14-1/2” h
Takahashi-san’s artistic background as a painter includes time spent as a craftsman of ‘Yuzen’, a silk kimono dying. He is a multiple-award winner in yearly Kokeshi competitions, receiving the Prime Minister’s Award, the highest honor bestowed on Sosaku Kokeshi artists.
This exceptional and RARE Kokeshi pays homage to Ogata Korin, who was born in 1658, and was a Japanese artist of the Tokugawa period. He is regarded as one of the masters of the Sotatsu-Koetsu School of Decorative Painting. An accomplished painter, he employed Japanese subject matter with a colorful, decorative style. He also was an expert lacquer artist, whose work has had a tremendous influence on Kokeshi craftsmen such as Takahashi-san, and others working in the field.
Takahashi, as influenced by Korin, is famous for his textile designs and pictorial decorations now interpreted on Kokeshi wooden forms, as this piece pictures abstract, bold silver-colored flowers and tree branches on a natural Ash, (Kaibun), wood-patterned background. The wonderful-proportioned head is perched on a bold and solid neck that joins this element with the body of the doll. The face is very expressive with horizontal, slanted eyes, and a wisp of black bangs on top of the head with side fringes. Takahashi-san titled, this piece, signed in script, and placed his Hanko on the bottom of the doll.
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-takahashi-hashime-1918-2002.
Condition: Excellent, lathe-turned creation and size, for it is outstanding, excellent, impressive, and beautiful. 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 Takahashi, Hashime.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Takahashi, Hajime | 1918-2002
Origin:
Originally a fine arts painter, Takahashi-san is from Sendai, (where Traditional Kokeshi were born), in Miyagi Prefecture. His artistic background also includes time spent as a craftsman of Yuzen silk kimono dying. He is a multiple award winner in yearly Kokeshi competitions, receiving the Prime Minister’s Award, the highest honor bestowed on Sosaku Kokeshi artists. All of his work is easily recognized by the painterly designs decorating his dolls. Now deceased, his son, Akinori is carrying on the family’s tradition, but in limited production.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
The most unusual quality of his dolls is that their heads can be a separate element, or just a simple tapered element at the top of the doll form. The artist motif‘s range from realistic to abstract Plum flowers, (Ume), Cherry blossoms, (Sakura), Japanese Iris, (Ayame), or celebrating seasonal festivals with zodiac animals. Takahashi-san has an unusual way to illustrate kimono in a very painterly way. He shows both the kimono and undergarments, with exaggerated waists and simple obi, if it shows an obi at all. Occasionally seen is his use of Rokuro Moyo in both carved and painted form.
Artist's Signature:
