Vintage Traditional Tsugaru Ohwani Kokeshi entitled: “Rabbit Pounding Mochi on the Moon” by Mamiya, Masao
Dimensions: 10-1/4”h
The rabbit, as well as the hare, have long been associated with moon deities and may signify rebirth or resurrection. They may also be symbols of fertility or sensuality, and they appear depicted on this wonderfully lathe-turned and painted Kokeshi. With this legend in mind, the Japanese began to incorporate “Usage” learning to understand the curious and affectional nature of rabbits, and in this case, pounding Mochi on the Moon.
Tsugaru is the newest of the ten traditional Kokeshi family of dolls for which this piece was created in 1942. One of the distinguishing features of this doll begins with the decoration of the head with black rings on the top of the head with swilling water motif in blue, and hair and side fringes painted with brush strokes in solid black. The face incorporates a lidded eye and a round “Maru-Bata” nose. The most unusual aspect is the free-form black and bluish-gray line work defining the garment with a folksy rendering of a standing rabbit pounding Mochi on a block that reads “Beautiful Center of Water”. The piece has a script signature of the artist on the bottom on the doll.
Condition: Excellent with no imperfections or color loss. Museum quality piece and a perfect doll for the collector of the Tsugaru Family of Kokeshi folk art genre.
Japanese Traditional Kokeshi
Tsugaru-Kei (Family)
Prefecture: Aomori
Origin:
Tsugaru is the youngest of the eleven traditional kokeshi strains. They began in the 1920s. A Tsugaru doll has a great deal of variety in its shape and pattern. The Tsugaru Kokeshi are made from a solid piece of wood, created using a difficult reverse lathe technique. The Tsugaru Kokeshi is the only strain to still use this method. The Tsugaru-kei developed after adults took an interest in buying more kokeshi as souvenirs from trips to the hot-spring resorts. Tsugaru dolls, which originated in the Aomori Prefecture in the region of the same name, are sometimes also known as Nuruyu dolls, originally fabricated by Hidetaro Mori. They made their appearance at Nuruyu (“lukewarm") Onsen, in the city of Kuroishi.
Collector's note – characteristics/painting style:
The dolls have round chests, thin waists, and cone-shaped lower bodies on which human faces are painted. They will strike you as quite unusual and interesting. One of the distinguishing features of this family of Kokeshi is a heavier hairstyle, in that most are Okappa styling, which has a full head of hair or mostly full head of hair in a bob style, and a chignon or topknot, without much decoration on the head. The hair is painted solid black, with brush strokes visible on the edges of the bangs and hair. One can easily recognize a Tsugaru doll because many will have the face of Daruma painted on the lower half of the body, with flowers painted on the doll looking quite realistic. The short history of the strain may not yet have given it enough time to utilize flowers such as White irises, peonies, and camellias. Stripes (Rokuro Moyo) appear at the top, center, or bottom of the doll. Some doll motifs, such as Ainu (native designs), that replace the Daruma image have simplified versions of peonies, irises, cherry blossoms, and camellia.
NOTE: We have seen a few dolls with the image of Daruma that were created by Sato, Zenji, (b.1925), in which he drew “feet” on the bottom with his signature, which was inspired by his mentor and master, Mori, Hidetori, (b1895), who used the same interesting humorous addition since kokeshi never incorporated feet.
Leading, Craftsmen:
Abo, Muchihide, 1950, (Hirosaki, Aomori) - Master: Sato, Zenji. No additional published information
Mori, Hidetaro, 1895 (Nuruya, Aomori) - Master: Mori, Motokichi. No additional published information
Mori, Mitsuo, 1955 - Masters: Mori, Hidetaro & Shin-ichi. No additional published information
Muramoto, Fumio, 1941- Master, Mori, Senzo. No additional published information
Okuse, Tetsunori, 1940 - Master: Mori, Hidetaro. No additional published information
Sato, Yoshiki, 1949, (Omani, Aomori) - Master: Mori, Hidetaro. No additional published information
Sato, Zenji, 1925, Master: Mori, Hidetaro. No additional published information
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