{"product_id":"usaburo-okamoto-i-1917-2009-sosaku-kokeshi-in-stile-usaburo-1980-circa-1","title":"USABURO OKAMOTO I, 1917–2009 Usaburō-style sosaku-kokeshi, circa 1980","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eKokeshi doll in Usaburō style, made of Japanese cornel wood and zelkova (\u003cem\u003ekeyaki\u003c\/em\u003e). \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe wooden body is richly crafted. The dress (kimono) is not simply painted, but\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eburned in (pyrography) to trace the geometric lattice patterns and vertical lines that evoke traditional fabrics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis kokeshi won the Minister of International Trade and Industry Award, a prestigious recognition in the Japanese craft sector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUsaburō Okamoto\u003c\/strong\u003e (1917–2009) is among the most recognizable masters of creative Kokeshi of the post-war period, able to combine formal rigor and poetic sensitivity in works that speak of the seasons, the passage of time, and Japanese nature in its most essential form. He founded his own workshop in Shibukawa, in Gunma Prefecture, and in 1950 began the production of Kokeshi, introducing original carving techniques.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Art of Kokeshi (こけし)\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKokeshi are wooden dolls with simple and essential shapes, expressions of traditional Japanese craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigins and History of Japanese Dolls\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese wooden figures originated in the Tōhoku region, in northeastern Japan, towards the end of the Edo period (1600-1868). They were originally created by master turners, called \u003cem\u003eKijishi\u003c\/em\u003e, as souvenirs and protective amulets for tourists at the hot springs in Miyagi Prefecture. Their success was so great that production quickly spread throughout the region, reaching as far as Russia, where they served as models for the famous matryoshka dolls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMeaning and Characteristics of Kokeshi\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKokeshi are not just ornamental objects, but testimonies of Japanese rural craftsmanship. Traditionally, they were considered lucky charms and were used to beautify Japanese homes. At the time in Japan, they were regarded as a refined art object to give to special people.\u003cbr\u003eThey are traditionally made of \u003cem\u003emizuki\u003c\/em\u003e, Japanese cornel, also chosen for its name meaning \"water tree,\" thus considered a talisman against fires. Their shape is characterized by a cylindrical body without arms or legs, which focuses attention on the face. The face is painted with a few essential brush strokes, primarily using red, black, and sometimes green.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eDento-Kokeshi\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSosaku-kokeshi\u003c\/em\u003e: Tradition and Modernity\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is important to distinguish between two main categories. \u003cem\u003eDento-Kokeshi\u003c\/em\u003e are the traditional ones, linked to specific localities and eleven historical local schools, among which Naruko and Yajirou stand out. These follow stylistic canons passed down over time, adhering to precise rules that characterize each school. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eSosaku-Kokeshi\u003c\/em\u003e, on the other hand, represent the creative and contemporary soul of this tradition: in these, the artist enjoys full expressive freedom, introducing sculptural elements and unique pictorial motifs that transform the doll into a piece of modern art. Innovative forms and techniques such as pyrography are experimented with, paving the way for personal interpretations that engage with tradition while constantly renewing it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Galleria Elena Salamon - Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Stampe Giapponesi","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52624892658011,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0405\/8110\/3766\/files\/Kokeshi.jpg?v=1779350638","url":"https:\/\/www.elenasalamon.com\/en\/products\/usaburo-okamoto-i-1917-2009-sosaku-kokeshi-in-stile-usaburo-1980-circa-1","provider":"Galleria Elena Salamon - Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Stampe Giapponesi","version":"1.0","type":"link"}