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
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:
