Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled “Yuki no ko | Snow Child” by Takahashi, Hashime
Dimensions: 9-3/4”h
For Takahashi-san, there are two very different treatments of a child ready for a cold winter day, while gazing up at the snow filled-sky. The head is a separate element at the top of the doll form, with a suggestion of very unusual eye treatment, a ‘dot nose’, and a wisp of bangs peeking out from one headpiece and unusual swirling of the hair on the other two. The second unusual element is the headscarf totally covering the head on one with a beautifully detailed vermilion red textile, which continues to drape down the front of its body. The mufflers tied around the neck all have individual motifs and are each detailed differently. The partially-shown face and body are left natural, and finished with uncolored candle wax, (Rōsoku no rō). The dolls have Takahashi’s hand signature in ink on the bottom.
Resources indicate that these pieces were based on the following children’s song, which reads as follows:
“Snow and hail are falling thickly, they are falling steadily and piling up, they keep falling without stopping.”
Condition: Excellent meaning that the piece retains its original craft/workmanship showing a wonderful-developed patina commensurate which suggests a degree of wear that corresponds to its vintage. It is void of damage, cracks, breakage, or repairs and meets all the standards of the collectible Sosaku Kokeshi.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Takahashi, Hashime | 1918-2002
Biographical History:
Takahashi Hashime was originally a fine artist/painter. He is known for his colorful designs and the use of brush strokes. Takahashi-san is from Sendai, (where Traditional Kokeshi were born), in Miyagi Prefecture. His artistic background also includes time spent as a craftsman of Yuzen silk kimono dying which is why Kimono is a focus on all of his dolls. He is a multiple award winner in yearly Kokeshi competitions, receiving the Prime Minister’s Award, the highest honor bestowed on Sosaku Kokeshi artists. All of his work is easily recognized producing unique forms and details. Now deceased, his son, Akinori is carrying on the family’s tradition, but in limited production.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
The most unusual quality of his dolls is that their heads are treated as a separate element which in many cases are a simple tapered element between the head and the body of the doll. The artist motif‘s range from realistic seasonal flowers such as abstract Plum flowers, (Ume), Cherry blossoms, (Sakura), and Japanese Iris, (Ayame), or celebrating zodiac figures representing one of twelve specific constellations of the zodiac, which over time took on diverse meanings. Takahashi-san has a beautiful pictorial approach to illustrating kimono in a very refined painterly way. He shows both painted and carved Kimono, Obi with exaggerated waists and supportive under and over garments such as scarves and sashes. His use of Rokuro Moyo is occasionally seen in carved and painted forms. Last but not least, are the detailing of faces, all having expressive eyes, small dot noses and wisps of hair. His use of Rokuro Moyo is occasionally seen in both carved and painted forms.