Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi Entitled, “Winter Camellia | Kantsubaki ” by Sato Kouson (A.K.A. Komura)
Dimensions: 9-1/2”h
Sato-san’s Kokeshi are recognized by their wonderfully soft and gentle faces, with painterly bodies’ artwork. Not afraid to create varying size dolls, her work distances itself from other female artists in the creative genre with her bold graphic approach. The slanted head and wonderfully defined face incorporates red bows on each side of the head, with a simple hairline with bangs in black and gray. The front of the Kimono shows a wonderful balance of sumi-e’ brush strokes and beautifully painted camellia, (winter rose), flowers that are both open and in bud form, along with variegated green leaves. The Japanese Camellia is an evergreen loved by the Japanese, and a favorite subject by Sato-san. The piece is signed on the bottom.
Condition: Excellent, original condition, with no fading or loss of color and consistent with age. The piece meets all the standards of collectible Folk Art.
NOTE: As collectors, we felt it was most important to represent all Sosaku Kokeshi artists, and particularly a female, and whether or not the artist has a written account of his or her life. Her dolls show the diversity of this cultural specialization, and the creative work produced by this artist.
Return Policy
Our antique/vintage pieces are identified/described and professionally photographed, and considered, “as is”, therefore all sales are final. Read our full refund and return policy.
Artisan | Woodworker: Sato, Kouson (A.K.A. Kimura)
Origin:
One of the few female creative Kokeshi makers recognized as an accomplished artist, Kouson worked out of her studio in Fukushima-ken, Kuwaori-machi. This was in the heart of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastation area of Fukushima Prefecture.
As collectors, we felt it was most important to represent all Sosaku Kokeshi artists, and particularly a female and whether or not the artist has a written account of his or her life. Each shows the diversity of this cultural specialization and the creative work produced by this artist.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Her dolls are easily recognized by wonderfully soft and gentle faces, with the bodies’ artwork ranging from simple but elegant sumi-e’ brush strokes to beautifully painted autumn leaves, camellia, (winter rose), or the chrysanthemum, (Kikumon, as related to the Imperial Seal of Japan) and bamboo. She occasionally created Zodiac characters that are quite rare! Not afraid to create very large dolls, her work distances itself from other female artists in the creative genre with her bold approach. She also incorporated “Chatter Work” into the body of some dolls to create a wonderful contrast in texture.
Artist's signature:
