Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi entitled: “Yuyake | Evening Glow by Aida, Seiho (A.K.A. Harumine) (1926-1998
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Dimensions: 8-1/2”h
This rare and exceptional Kokeshi exhibits beautiful tooling which defines the blanket wrap called a “Kakumaki”. This winter shoulder shawl was used throughout the Northern part of Japan to throw on quickly to keep a body warm on short outings. The most unique feature of this doll is the unusual and extensive surface treatment called “Harmonic Chattering”, giving texture focusing on the garment worn during this time. Aida-san used minimally painted ornamentation to highlight the red, vertically-textured undergarment. A simple serene facial expression with horizontal slanted eyes, a small wedge nose, and bangs were used to define the face of a young girl peeping out from under the shawl. Signed in script on the bottom of the doll by the artist.
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-aida-seihou-1926-1998
Condition: Superb meaning outstanding, excellent, and retains its original craft/workmanship showing a wonderfully developed patina commensurate with age that corresponds to its vintage. The piece is void of damage, cracks, breakage, or repairs. This doll meets all the standards of the collectible Japanese Sosaku Kokeshi by Aida, Seiho.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Aida, Seihou | 1926-1998
Biographical History:
Aida-san, (a.k.a. Harumine), is a leading Sosaku Kokeshi artist who has won many awards since he began creating Kokeshi in 1947 and has produced award-winning dolls from 1962-1974. Aida was born in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture in the first year of the Showa era. Along with the Prime Minister’s Award, he also won top awards in the Modern Kokeshi Academy in 1972-74; the Minister of Education Encouragement Price at the National Modern Kokeshi Exhibition in 1974; and an award in 1993 at the Special Kokeshi Federation Anniversary Exhibition. He is acknowledged as one of the leading early artists in the Sosaku movement. His eldest son, Yoshiki has taken over the family name and is exclusively a sedcond generation craftsman of Sosaku Kokeshi. Sheiho was a memeber of the Yonezawa Miyuki Association until his death.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Kimono design and motifs are understated with chattering giving a rich textured surface, or intricately handpainted with seasonal and natural flora elements. The natural wood, typically the deep coloration and graining of the Enju, (Pagoda tree wood) and Birch, (Kabanoki), provides a basis for his creations, which, in most cases are minimally painted, and ornamented. The faces on his dolls are meant to be more expressive, and minimally rendered and incorporate a suggestion of a nose and expressive eyes. He always celebrates the garment worn with distinctive hairstyles when emphasized.