Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Osage | Pigtails” by Aida, Seihou
Dimensions: 14-3/4"h
This exceptional doll has several unusual features carved from one piece of wood. The first is her distinctive plaited hanging hair with long braids falling from both sides of her head. This style of doll came into fashion when Western hairstyles and fashion became popular throughout Japan (1950s era). Her Kimono is beautifully carved incorporating chattering, giving a rich textured surface, with carved horizontal bands defining the collar and bottom of the garment. It is also not unusual to see Aida-san utilize sumi-e’ drawn ‘one-stroke eyes, (Hitofude-me), complete with a small red nose. The piece is mounted on a low-plinth black base. Signed by the artist.
Condition: Excellent, beautiful condition affording the doll age-old elegance. Retains the original craft/workmanship showing a wonderfully-developed patina commensurate with a degree of wear that corresponds to its vintage. The piece meets all the standards of Sosaku Kokeshi collectibles.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Aida, Seihou | 1926-1998
Biographical History:
Aida-san, (a.k.a. Harumine), is a leading Sosaku Kokeshi artist who has won many awards since he began creating Kokeshi in 1947 and has produced award-winning dolls from 1962-1974. Aida was born in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture in the first year of the Showa era. Along with the Prime Minister’s Award, he also won 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. His eldest son, Yoshiki has taken over the family name and is exclusively a sedcond generation craftsman of Sosaku Kokeshi. Sheiho was a memeber of the Yonezawa Miyuki Association until his death.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Kimono design and motifs are understated with chattering giving a rich textured surface, or intricately handpainted with seasonal and natural flora elements. The natural wood, typically the deep coloration and graining of the Enju, (Pagoda tree wood) and Birch, (Kabanoki), provides a basis for his creations, which, in most cases are minimally painted, and ornamented. The faces on his dolls are meant to be more expressive, and minimally rendered and incorporate a suggestion of a nose and expressive eyes. He always celebrates the garment worn with distinctive hairstyles when emphasized.