Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Tsuki | Moon” by Kato, Hiroshi
Dimensions: 16-1/4”h
Through this exceptionally rare Kokeshi doll, (produced only in 1960), Katosan worked to bring memories of very traditional Japanese women. He shows thought and a contemporary approach to the ‘Mage” hair design in the expressive sumi-e’ brushwork of the stylistic details of the decorative motif. His interpretive approach to the cherry blossom in black, red, and gold-flecked obi is exceptional. The bottom of the Kimono is flipped up to expose the red undergarment. Her face is extremely expressive, and the offset and tilted head and eyes are characteristic of Japanese women, and represent the “windows of the soul”.
The majority of his female figures represent women from families of high rank, showing a certain aspect of freedom by being well-educated in music, poetry, art, and fashion. He produced a limited number of equally expressive dolls during the 1960s. The piece is signed by Kato-san with his red impressed stamp on the bottom.
The piece was published in Sosaku Kokeshi: Celebrating the Major Artists of the Creative Movement in 2022. For more information on this artist go to the following link: https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-kato-hiroshi-active-only-in-the-1960s.
Condition: Excellent meaning that the piece retains its original craft/workmanship showing a wonderfully developed patina commensurate with age, which suggests “a degree of soiling that corresponds to its vintage” but void of damage, cracks, breakage, or repairs. This doll meets all the standards of the collectible Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi by Kato, Hiroshi.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Kato, Hiroshi | Active only in the 1960s
[no-bio]Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Kato-san’s slender and tall figures bring memories of very traditional women in Japan. In his dolls we observe a rather contemporary approach to the ‘Mage” hair design in both form and sumi-e’ brushwork, suggesting features as well as stylistic details relating to the general design of the Kimono and the black and gold obi. His faces are extremely expressive, with a partial covering of the face and tilted heads adding an unusual aspect to one series of dolls. Typical are the scenes from nature, (flowers, mountains).
Hiroshi's stylized versions of Heian noblewomen, from families of high rank, were one of his favorite subjects. Women enjoyed a certain aspect of freedom during the period and were well educated in music, poetry, art, fashion, and calligraphy, all part of a Heian Period woman's education.
Many of these women traveled incognito, (Oshinobi Dochi), and Hiroshi's creative dolls of the subject are extremely rare. He beautifully details their elongated faces and long hair which were common for ladies of this period, and they are typically wearing attire for travel: oversized hat and a heavy coat to ward off the chill.
Artist's Signature:
