LARGE VINTAGE KOKESHI by SEKAGUCHI

This is a spectacular kokeshi by maybe one of the most famous kokeshi makers of all times. She is titled 'Tsuya 艶' which literately means 'gloss'. It refers to a kind of 'soft glow'. She wears a lovely blue kimono with beautiful kanzashi (hair ornament). 

She is 42cm tall and in excellent condition with a small area of markings around the top of her kimono but nothing to detract from the beauty of this kokeshi. (See pics) The artist's hanko stamp is on the lower side of this kokeshi.

Sekaguchi passed away in 2018 but his family carry on with the tradition of making sasaku kokeshi in his own museum where he worked and lived. Sekaguchi was a winner of many awards, such as the Ministry of International Trade Industry Award in 1978, Prime Minister’s Award and many others.

Sekaguchi favoured dogwood for his pieces and used many types of motifs which include elements of festivals, nature especially clouds, cherry blossoms and the gingko leaf.