Vintage Sosaku Kokeshi by Shido, Shouzan entitled: Kitaguni (Wintry Weather)
Dimensions: 11-1/2”h
Shido-san loved loved creating slender, tall dolls to support the fact that they resemble thin trees seen throughout Japan. He also enjoyed using a variety of woods to give character to his dolls.
Shouzan particularly enjoyed the and snowy season, which is a favorite theme, executed with minimal painted ornamentation, and in this case with a scarf to accentuate the body of the doll and part of the headdress called a ‘Tsunokakushi’, which is a wide headdress or hood, which covered the hair with bangs peeping out of the hood. Here you see a very characteristic treatment of the of eyes. The black scarf is shown over an overcoat that is defined only by a variation in the recessed line on the bottom of the doll in which the Kimono is shown as vertical line work on the bottom which brings forth the best use of complex geometry to create traditional Japanese clothing elements.
Condition: This doll is in excellent condition with no fading and painted work as originally made.
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Artisan | Woodworker: Shido, Shouzan | 1932-1995
Origin:
Shido-san is considered by Kokeshi collectors and critics alike to be arguably the most influential artist in the world of Sosaku Kokeshi doll making. Shido-san’s main focus was depicting unadorned Northern girls in the traditional “Mino”, or Snow Coat, but he also produced tall, thin dolls, which were sparsely decorated. His keen sense of design, minimal use of color, and simple elegant shapes set him apart from his peers, making him one of the most collectible artists emerging from the creative period of the ‘60s. He is a winner of the Prime Minister’s Award, among many other awards.
Collector's note – descriptive qualities, standard characteristics & ornamentation styles:
Shido-san loved studying the use of combining different types of wood to gain the desired effect and to give dimension to his pieces. He also enjoyed creating slender, tall dolls to support the fact that they resemble the tall, thin trees seen throughout Japan. He incorporated a repetitive textural pattern called ‘Harmonic Chatter work’ to enhance the natural qualities of the wood on many of his works.
Shido-san particularly enjoyed the textural qualities of ‘Chattering’ on the rain/snow coat, (Minomushi), which is a favorite theme, executed with minimal painted ornamentation, with an emphasis on the natural wood. In general, it is said the Japanese culture is one of modesty and humility. Occasionally we see different types of headdress, one of which he called a ‘Tsunokakushi’, which is a wide headresses or hood, which covered elaborate hairstyles. We are told that the Japanese people regulate their behavior and response by reading faces and the eyes of others. Here, as well as elsewhere, you will see many examples of different characteristics of the eye is expressions. His most famous doll was called “mai”, a dancer, which was an elegant and slender doll created in 1970. This doll exhibited traditional hair design with an emphasis on a brightly colored “obi” which brings forth the best use of complex geometry to create traditional Japanese clothing elements.
Shido-san was a prolific artist/woodworker of Kokeshi dolls. We additionally see unusual subjects focused on Zen Buddhism and figures of Daruma, (Bodhidharma) of which most were made in a “roly-poly” type figure seen throughout festivals in Japan.
Artist's Signature:
