Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Osone / Mai | Dancer” by Shouzan, Shido (1932-1995)

Sale price$230.00

Dimensions: 15-1/4” h

Shouzan-san is considered by Kokeshi collectors and critics alike to be the most influential artist in the world of Sosaku Kokeshi doll-making. His dolls have won various awards since 1958, including the “Doll exhibition-retro Award”, and the Prime Minister’s Award. He served as a judge of the All Japan Kokeshi Contest from 1970-1976. Shouzan, as opposed to other Kokeshi craftspersons, published a book entitled: Kizin Kasho, citing examples of his award-winning Kokeshi. The Kokeshi, entitled: “Osono | Dancer”, sometimes known as Mai, is a different color version of the image in the award-winning book entitled: Kokeshi: Wooden Treasures of Japan, published in 2005.  

This is an alternative version of the Kokeshi named Osone. The uniqueness focuses on the color and graphic details of the Obi, which has chrysanthemum petals in gold, over a background of purple, and the rust-colored undergarment. This is an exceptionally beautiful, elegant, tall, and slender doll made of Birchwood, (Kabanoki), bringing forth the best use of complex geometry to create these unique Japanese elements. This doll has a traditional black hairstyle with one different approach to the “Mage”, in that it appears almost like a hair ornament as opposed to a top knot. The doll has the artist’s impressed Honko on the bottom of the doll, which was used on forthcoming dolls with a graphic placed in a box. 

The piece was published in the 2022 research publication entitled: Sosaku Kokeshi: Celebrating the Major Artists of the Creative Movement (https://mingeiarts.com/products/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-shido-shozan-1932-1995.

Condition: Superb lathe-turned creation and size, for it is outstanding, excellent, impressive, and beautiful. No chips, cracks, breaks, missing pieces, or restoration; is very stable, and retains its original details and finish. The piece meets all the standards of the vintage collectible Sosaku Kokeshi by Shouzan, Shido.