Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Yoroboki | Delight” by Tanaka, Harumasa
Dimensions: 6-3/4” h
This Kokeshi is sensitively formed, with the head and body defining this wonderful small figure. The hairstyle she displays is typically Japanese being solid black covering the entire head and falling to the neck, with the end hairs all feathered and flowing like a waterfall around the face. A small portion of her face is visible, with upward-slanting eyes and a small red nose. And finally, the decorative motif illustrates subtle Cherry Blossoms in reddish pink and green on the front section of the doll. There is an impressed stamp on the lower portion of the body identifying the artist as Tanaka, Harumasa.
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-tanaka-harumasa.
Condition: Excellent and beautifully preserved, meaning that the piece retains its original craft/workmanship showing a wonderful-developed patina that corresponds to its vintage, void of damage, cracks, breakage, or repairs. This doll meets all the standards of the collectible Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi by Tanaka, Harumasa.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Tanaka, Harumasa
Origin:
Tanaka-san is acknowledged as a leading member of the Sosaku movement in the 1950s-60s, and is a multiple award winner. His doll “Dojo”, (Young Lady), won the Prime Minister’s Award in 1965 at the 12th Annual All Nippon Japan Kokeshi Competition. He additionally was recognized with his creation entitled: Kantsubaki, (Winter Camellia).
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Tanaka beautifully illustrates the accomplished use of form and un-ornamented surface. The artist uses wood to express feeling, related to the casual hair treatment and abstract, almost 1920s treatment of her haori. Modern thinking young girls loved these abstract flamboyant designs, which transformed their lives and connected them to the West. The most unusual aspect of course is the hair design style, which is uniform in each piece and adds elegance to his interpretation of the figure. His abstract motifs are typically flowers, i.e., poppy in colored lacquer, or the piece is left totally unadorned and relies solely on the carved form. The eyes are most expressive with a simple red dot to express the nose.
Artist's Signature:
