RARE KOKESHI BY KON AKIRA SEIJU

This is the oldest style of kokeshi made by Kok Akira Seiju. This beautifully crafted doll depicts the emotions of a ‘jo-no-mai noh dancer' through beautifully stylized faces, gestures, and simple treatment of garments. With expressive open slits for the eyes, a realistic red mouth, and the "jo-no-mai" hair design typically worn by this character, the doll's head simulates a Noh mask. In this doll, the multi-colored decorative headband is one of the most interesting elements. With a red demarcation indicating the closure of the Kimono, the garment is adorned with shallow and subtle cherry blossom carvings (Sakura). Even the feet a shown wearing traditional tabi.

To capture all of this character's decorative elements, Seiju-san used Japanese cypress (Hinoki) and natural pigments. The kokeshi is on a small platform to give honour to the actor and the creation. The artist's hanko stamp and onsen mark are on the bottom which identifies it as one of the few kokeshi by Akira Seijun. This doll is in excellent condition with no cracks or dents and is 33cm tall.

This is a kokeshi for the very serious collector.

The doll published in two books: Kokeshi: Wooden Treasures of Japan, 2005 and Sosaku Kokeshi: Celebrating the Major Artists of the Creative Movement, 2022 by Evans & Wolf. For additional information on the artist/family go to: https://mingeiarts.com/collections/artisan-woodworker-kon-akira-seiju-1931