Kokeshi Doll - Winter Girl - Master Shido Shozan circa 1950-60 - Japan

This doll represents a young girl wearing a minomushi, (snow coat), the artist's favorite theme. The mino was a braided straw garment worn by mountain people. (see photo at the end of the slideshow.) The villagers of the north were farmers, silkworm breeders, and circulated in all weathers. These minomushi were inspired by the slope of the roofs called "te o inotte", (hands in prayer). The roofs resembling hands that pray, because steep to evacuate the heavy winter snow. Artist's stamp - micros wear. Shido liked combining different types of wood, in order to create dolls that evoke trees by their texture. He sought modesty and humility. From the thick headdress springs a small face. The japanese regulate their behavior by reading. In the eyes of others. Thus the doll transmits its serenity by this tiny face of the thick coat. His works are exhibited at the toy museum in nuremberg. -- about kokeshis kokeshi appear in the years 1820-40 (end of the edo period). Originally, they were made from scraps of wood by artisans and peasants and sold to the people of the city. The oldest have a keel shape and may have a movable head with red in dominant color. They are originally made of wood (cherry, pear, maple). They were toys for girls, or offered as a token of love or friendship; or symbolized the desire to have a healthy child. The doll comes from a shinto communion with nature (forest / wood / landscape). Shinto places links between landscapes and feminine forms. They are, modesty, discretion, femininity, feminine ideal. Their bun is an evocation of buddha. A certificate, a notice on the artist, as well as a detailed explanation on the art of kokeshis will be given to the purchaser.